Attendance at Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia has significantly dwindled, reflecting a broader trend facing Black congregations nationwide. On a recent Sunday morning, approximately 100 worshippers filled the historic church, once bustling with 4,000 members during the peak of the Great Migration in the 1920s. Today, the congregation has shrunk to about 700, with only around 300 attending services regularly.

As the choir echoed the familiar hymn “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior,” the atmosphere was vibrant, yet a palpable concern loomed. Many attendees wore masks, a reminder of ongoing health challenges, but the real issue at hand was the noticeable absence of younger generations in the pews. Rev. Dr. Mark Tyler, who has led Mother Bethel for 16 years, highlighted this generational shift, noting, “The decline has been slow but devastating.”

This phenomenon extends beyond Mother Bethel; Black churches across the United States are grappling with attracting younger members. Gallup reports that church membership among Black adults has decreased by nearly 20 percentage points over the last two decades. Pew Research Center data reveals that while half of Black millennials and Generation Z members attend predominantly Black churches, this is a stark contrast to two-thirds of their baby boomer and Silent Generation counterparts.

The decline in church attendance carries profound implications. Historically, the Black church has served as both a spiritual and social anchor, playing a pivotal role in the civil rights movement and influencing political mobilization. Pastors have often transitioned into political leaders, and congregations have been essential in rallying support for candidates. This deep-rooted connection has bolstered political cohesion among Black communities, with evidence suggesting that attending a majority Black church correlates strongly with identification with the Democratic Party.

However, as membership dwindles, the potential for political mobilization diminishes, raising concerns about younger Black voters’ engagement with the Democratic Party. This disconnection could impact electoral outcomes, particularly in critical states like Pennsylvania, where the Black church’s ability to galvanize voters could be decisive in upcoming elections.

Older congregants express anxiety over the generational divide. Carolyn Wilson, 70, reflects on her family’s legacy, noting that her father passed away just before the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was enacted. She feels a profound sense of responsibility in exercising her voting rights, saying, “I vote because that right was taken from him.” Yet, she struggles to instill that same sense of historical importance in younger Black individuals, observing, “They want to know ‘What’s in it for me?'”

The ongoing decline in church attendance among younger generations poses a complex challenge not only for individual congregations like Mother Bethel but for the broader societal and political landscape that the Black church has historically shaped. As these institutions confront the reality of an aging membership, the need for innovative approaches to engage younger congregants has never been more urgent.