Impulses for pastoral practice

Archdiocese of Cologne publishes study on church loyalty

People's existential longings for care, community, pastoral care, spirituality, redemption or protection can be positive resources for the church and strengthen people's attachment to the church. A working group of the Archdiocesan Vicariate General under the leadership of the Department of Pastoral Care is now developing impulses for pastoral practice based on these central bonding factors.

"We can learn from the people who describe their closeness to or distance from the church in very different ways and develop possible courses of action together with them," said Vicar General Dr. Markus Hofmann. "The study shows how diverse attachment to the church can be. This is crucial for the future of the Church of Cologne, because we want to reach all people in our diocese, inspire them and deepen contact with them wherever possible." On Saturday, Hofmann informed the Diocesan Pastoral Council, the central advisory body of the Archbishop of Cologne, about the further handling of the study at a closed meeting. "With the publication, we also want to initiate conversations about our future shape as a church," Hofmann is convinced.

The qualitative study, already commissioned by Vicar General Dominik Meiering from the Cologne market research institute "rheingold," is based on depth psychological interviews with 64 interlocutors. The interviewees ranged from committed to passive church members, those who had left the church and those who were willing to return; the sample also included evangelical and free church Christians. Across all interviewees, six attachment factors were identified that represent different aspirations of people. Many people attach to several or all of these factors.

What keeps people in the church

In this context, three bonding factors act on interpersonal and church offerings: The caring church in the form of social engagement offers opportunities for charitable activity or lay help in church organizations. The community church provides a sense of belonging, offers space in church institutions and opportunities for active participation. The pastoral church has an open ear and a deep understanding of the anxieties and contradictions of being human.

Three binding factors are directed more toward the salvation of people's souls: The spiritual church constantly revives the basic religious feeling through church services; however, pompous productions without a real connection to the faithful are rejected. The redemptive church proclaims the Good News and promises redemption and resurrection, even though in today's society the subject of death is increasingly suppressed. The protective church as a world-spanning institution has a strong home-giving effect: one can go under its roof or carry it with one in the form of cross pendants or patron saints.

Even the effect of just one bonding factor can keep people in the church, according to Stephan Grünewald, head of the rheingold market research institute. "This explains why some Catholics recharge spiritually only once a year with incense, organ sounds, candles, flowing vestments and Christmas carols and still remain members."

This study was published by the Archdiocese of Cologne on June 30, 2018.