The link between education, loneliness, and religious attendance

My brother will be the only child in our family to not attend college, and in some ways I must fight to keep from being jealous.

He will never have student debt. He will immediately begin work on creating his own business. He will get to learn on the fly. He won’t have to sit through classes that he doesn’t care for. He won’t feel the pressure to perform for a piece of paper called a degree that seems to not matter so much.

But, he will miss out on the relationships and connections that come with going to school. Are the connections made worth the price of admission?

College degree network effects

It is hard to imagine being blessed with the same opportunities that I have had without also having the opportunity to go to school. In fact, the first pastor job I ever got was helped along by the relationships I made with the church denomination while attending classes at their partner university.

So often in modern America, it is not skill or talent that get you access to the job you want, but the network you have developed.

Certainly, skill and talent and competence are necessary ingredients for success, but without the network I had developed I would not have known where to look for a pastor job.

University also blessed me with a group of like-minded friends who were pursuing the same job field as me, therefore gifting me a network of peers whom I can call on for advice, help, and encouragement.

Kids without a college education have to develop these network effects on their own. Not that it is impossible, but it takes for energy and agency to make sure to develop a strong network for opportunity and peer support.

The truth is, many who did not attend college state that they are not developing these networks, and 1 out of 4 state they have no friends at all.

What it means for churches

The lack of community in daily life is having a direct impact on churches, and we see that church has become a luxury for the highly educated and the wealthy.

All the recent data in America shows that those most likely to attend church are those who are doing better economically, hold higher levels of education, and already have more connections in their communities.

What is the cause of this trend?

There are a couple shifts that have been happening over time that have brought this to a breaking point.

First is economical. Those who have a higher degree are sometimes able to work jobs that afford them a more flexible schedule or work from home options, while also receiving a good living wage. Those without degrees find themselves in jobs that reduce their time and ability to be a part of community organizations. Plus, we see a dramatic rise in people picking up part time jobs, and those without degrees are picking up extra hours, only decreasing their availability to be involved in community opportunities.

The second is cultural. There has been a growing sentiment shift in the value of community gatherings in general. Church attendance may be decreasing among those without college degrees, but it also is decreasing in every category. The same is true with many community organizations.

The third is simply a theory, but it may be that our churches collect highly educated and wealthier individuals because the crowd reflects the leaders of our churches. Not many pastors feel called to go to lower paying jobs, and many pastors are overly educated. Their sermons and the way they lead attracts people who are like them, for better or worse.

Reversing the trend

It is interesting that the American church, who has a calling to connect with the poor and marginalized, seems to continue to consolidate among the highly educated and the well-to-do.

This is not to say the these folks don’t need Jesus or that our churches should not prize these attendees. We should, and any member is an important member.

But as we see a group that specifically stands out as lonely, it seems all the more pressing to connect with this group.

Here are some building blocks that I think churches and communities can use to encourage growth in networks that include those who are without college degrees.

1. Encourage and disciple leaders who do not have degrees. It is common for churches to put people who have degrees or are doing the best economically to be leaders in churches. This is not a prerequisite to leading in church. The gift of leadership is given by the Spirit, and can be given regardless of educational experience.

2. Create inclusive spaces. Does you church offer service times that are open for those who have to work on Sunday morning? Does your church have group gatherings that are accessible to those with multiple jobs? Could your church offer peer support for those who specifically struggle to find ways to connect?

3. Locate and address economic barriers. Those who struggle economically are more likely to struggle with isolation. Is there a way for your church community to come alongside efforts for affordable housing or encourage businesses to offer better wages so that community members are given more opportunity to be in the community?

4. Make community engagement celebratory. We need to rekindle the love and celebratory nature of getting together. This comes once we remind ourselves that the people around us are valuable, inherent in the image by which they were created. Make every effort to support and celebrate the moments when community comes together that people might fear missing the next get-together.

If you liked this post, or you feel like it would start a good conversation, please share this with your friends and ask them to subscribe.

It would help me a lot. Thanks for reading! 

More from the Spark Newsletter universe

New videos coming out weekly: https://youtube.com/@thejacobhayward?si=JHgwOjGP_-FwY3l0

Follow me on X for newest updates: https://x.com/thejacobhayward?s=21