by Alan Langstaff

Odds and Ends are letters covering important topics that do not require a whole article.

PEOPLE IN CHURCH TODAY

“For decades, women have outnumbered men in church attendance and have often led the way in spiritual participation. But a significant shift is occurring in American Christianity that demands attention: Women – particularly younger women – are attending church less frequently than men. This reversal isn’t just a numerical milestone; it signals a broader cultural and spiritual turning point.

While men traditionally have been less likely to participate in church life, the current data, released as part of Barna’s ongoing State of the Church initiative with Gloo, tells a different story – one that points both to signs of renewal in the Church and to specific, concerning areas of decline…

– Major Gender Shift: Men are significantly outpacing women in church attendance since the pandemic, reversing a long-standing trend in Barna’s decades of tracking. The 2025 gender gap is the largest recorded so far (43% for men vs. 36% women).

– Married Dads Show Up; Moms Step Back: Among parents of kids under 18, married dads have the highest show-up rate at church compared to all other parents. Only 1 in 4 single moms (24%) attend church weekly – significantly trailing other married moms and dads.

– Why It Matters: These shifts reveal new patterns of participation and disengagement among key groups that may reshape the fabric of church life in the years to come.”

WHY CHRISTIAN MOMS ATTEND CHURCH

“- Worship and community lead the way. Across the data, these two priorities consistently rise to the top in what draws moms to church and keeps them engaged.

– Community drives satisfaction. Moms report their strongest sense of connection and support through relationships and small group ministries.

– Teaching ranks lower than expected. Only about 1 in 4 moms (23%) say they’re highly satisfied with preaching and teaching, signaling a deeper opportunity for churches to listen and adapt.

Pastors often ask how best to serve the mothers in their congregation—especially in a season when many moms are carrying significant emotional, relational and spiritual weight. Recent research from Motherhood Today, conducted in partnership with The Mom Co, offers a clear window into what moms are actually seeking from church today. …

The research brings together two complementary perspectives—why moms choose to attend church and what aspects of church life feel most satisfying. When viewed together, these data points help clarify not just what draws moms through the doors, but what helps them remain engaged and nourished once they’re there. Across both why moms attend church and where they experience the greatest satisfaction, two priorities consistently rise to the top: worship and community.

When asked why they attend church, moms most often point to spiritual growth. They come to learn more about God, deepen their faith and reconnect spiritually—making worship and music a central draw. For many moms navigating full schedules and constant demands, worship functions as a rare and meaningful space to encounter God, recalibrate their hearts and experience spiritual renewal.”

(By barna.com)

TECHNOLOGY & MISSION

“For more than a decade, conversations about church technology centered on adoption. Should churches livestream services? Should they offer digital giving? Should they invest in apps or online engagement tools? Today, most church leaders agree technology has a place in ministry. 

According to [a] new study, Technology for Missional Impact: State of Church Tech 2026, produced in partnership with Pushpay, a more pressing question now is how intentionally churches align those tools with their mission. In many ways, it’s not a matter of if churches use technology but how they use it for faithful and fruitful ministry.

Technology Is Opening New Ministry Opportunities

In this regard, church leaders overwhelmingly see technology as a positive force in ministry. The report finds 95 percent of church leaders agree (strongly + somewhat) that technology opens new opportunities for ministry, and 94 percent agree (strongly + somewhat) that it helps their church fulfill its mission in today’s digital culture. 

Leaders also see its impact within their congregations: 79 percent agree that technology has significantly or moderately improved connection within their church community.”

(By barna.com)

FAITH-FORWARD CEOS

“For today’s CEOs, leadership is no longer measured by results alone. As organizations navigate workforce fatigue, shifting expectations and rising moral complexity, many executives are rethinking what it means to lead well and what personal values matter most in their leadership. A new… report—Faith-Forward CEOs: Research and Insights on Executives Who Lead Differently, produced in partnership with C12 Business Forums—examines how senior executives understand leadership, culture and responsibility in this moment.

The findings are drawn from a survey of 356 U.S.-based CEOs. Nearly nine in ten (89%) either identify as Christian or say faith is important in their life, leading Barna to describe this group as “Faith-Forward.” The research explores leadership across four dimensions: self-leadership, organizational leadership, cultural leadership and Christian leadership.

In the first article based on this research, Barna examined what motivates Faith-Forward CEOs and how their Christian faith informs their leadership. In this second installment, the focus turns to what personal values influence CEOs leadership most.

For pastors and church leaders, these findings offer more than insight into the marketplace. They point to a growing opportunity to support the spiritual formation of leaders whose daily decisions shape the lives of employees, families and communities far beyond the church walls.”

(By barna.com)

CLIMATE CHANGE

“One of former President Obama’s top scientific advisers for climate change now speaks out.

His name is Steven Koonin, a physicist and senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. He is also the author of “Unsettled: What Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn’t, and Why It Matters.”

[The] film, which premieres on Newsmax, focuses on what the research actually says while challenging viewers to consider what is known and what remains uncertain speculation about the climate controversy.

“The climate is changing, that is not in dispute. What merits closer examination is how scientific complexity is translated into public certainty and policy urgency,” director/producer Keith Neubert said. He notes the film features voices of highly accomplished physicists, climatologists, and policy leaders who explore areas where evidence is robust, projections are divergent and disagreement persists.

“The message uncovered is not to dismiss environmental concern, nor to advocate inaction, but to encourage intellectual rigor and open inquiry in a field that increasingly shapes global decision-making,” he added.

The distinguished scientists and policy leaders featured include U.S. Energy Secretary Christopher Wright, renowned climate scientist professor Judith Curry, and other leading scientists.

The analysis challenged prevailing assumptions about climate modeling, greenhouse gas emissions and extreme weather attribution, among other topics.

Additionally, the film exposes the powerful financial ecosystem surrounding climate policy, which includes more than $10 trillion globally invested in wind, solar, and battery technologies over the past decades.

Despite this investment, these energy sources account for less than 3% of total global energy consumption.

That’s as trillions more in subsidies, mandates, research funding, and private investment continue to flow through political, academic, and corporate channels.”

(By newsmax.com)