American Bible Society Report Highlights Discipleship Gap and Church Attendance Trends

The American Bible Society’s 'State of the Bible USA 2026' report, conducted with the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center, reveals a complex landscape for American churches. While 37% of Americans report never attending services, the study notes a slight increase in occasional attendance, with those visiting churches every six months rising from 5% in 2024 to 8% this year. Overall, 25% of Americans attend services weekly, and 49% of those identifying as Christian attend at least once a month.

Participation levels vary significantly across denominations. Evangelical Protestants report the highest engagement, with two-thirds attending monthly and half classified as 'practicing Christians.' In contrast, 65% of Mainline Protestants and 60% of Roman Catholics are categorized as 'nominal' Christians. The data also highlights demographic differences, noting that women are more likely than men to attend services monthly. Researchers suggest these findings point to a 'massive discipleship gap,' as many individuals identify as Christian despite infrequent participation in church life.