Part 1: What Leaders Can Learn From the People Who Are Leaving the Church | An Interview with Jeff Strong

Jeff Strong worked nearly 30 years in the consumer products industry as a senior executive at Procter & Gamble and global president and chief customer officer at Johnson & Johnson. He then taught in the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University and worked as an advisor to the Church before serving as a mission leader in the Arkansas Bentonville Mission.

Jeff has since spent several years doing research on why people are leaving the Church. He recently published the book Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn from Them. Jeff lives in Midway, Utah, and stays busy with a little lavender farm, some business consulting, and enjoying family.

Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn from Them
What to Say When Loved Ones Leave the Church | An Interview with Jeff Strong and Joseph Grenny
The Data Behind Church Culture | An Interview with Jeff Strong
TornByJeffStrong.com
Instagram: @tornbyjeffstrong
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00:02:42 – Competing Narratives in Church Growth and Disaffiliation
00:04:22 – Personal Connection to Disaffiliation
00:06:36 – The Journey to Understanding Disaffiliation
00:09:05 – The Role of Data and Personal Experience
00:10:54 – The Complexity of Disaffiliation
00:12:11 – The Challenge of Measuring Disaffiliation
00:15:09 – Research Methodology and Findings
00:17:29 – Understanding the Audience for “Torn”
00:19:30 – The Importance of Accurate Understanding
00:20:36 – Celebrating Strengths While Facing Challenges
00:22:03 – The Impact of Local vs. Global Growth
00:25:41 – The Role of Missionary Work
00:27:06 – The Need for a Balanced Perspective
00:29:26 – The Misconception of Resurgence Among Young People
00:31:03 – The Data on Disaffiliation
00:35:02 – The Four Waves of Disaffiliation
00:40:53 – Wave One: Lifestyle and Depletion
00:43:17 – Personal Anecdote on Depletion and Church Experience
00:44:19 – Wave Two: Doubt and Disbelief
00:46:05 – Wave Three: Cultural and Social Factors
00:48:12 – Wave Four: Institutional Issues
00:50:00 – The Importance of Understanding and Addressing Disaffiliation

• Competing Narratives: The church is experiencing growth in certain areas, such as baptisms and missionary work, but disaffiliation remains a significant concern, with many individuals quietly stepping away from their faith.
• Personal Connection: Jeff shares his personal journey of grappling with his son’s disaffiliation, highlighting the emotional impact and the need for a deeper understanding of why individuals leave the church.
• Research Findings: Jeff’s research indicates that approximately 40% of active members have disaffiliated since 2000, with various reasons categorized into “waves,” including lifestyle challenges and deeper faith crises.
• Cultural Dynamics: The discussion emphasizes the importance of recognizing the cultural pressures within the church that may lead to feelings of depletion rather than spiritual fulfillment for some members.
• Engagement vs. Disaffiliation: While many active members report strong engagement and purpose, a significant portion of young adults are less affiliated with organized religion, indicating a complex relationship with faith.

• Fostering Understanding: Leaders can benefit from understanding the reasons behind disaffiliation to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for those struggling with their faith.
• Encouraging Open Dialogue: By promoting open conversations about faith challenges, leaders can help bridge the gap between those who feel fulfilled in their faith and those who are struggling.
• Addressing Cultural Pressures: Leaders should be aware of the cultural dynamics that may lead to feelings of depletion among members and work to create a more nurturing and understanding community that supports individual spiritual journeys.

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