Understanding & Fostering Engagement

Research on Spirituality, Belonging, and the Future of Church Engagement

Church attendance is changing, but the desire for meaning, connection, and spiritual belonging remains strong. How do younger generations understand spirituality? What are they seeking from community, and what keeps them from finding it in the Church? And how might congregations respond in ways that are authentic, welcoming, and faithful to their mission?

Through the Caffeinated Church Storytelling Initiative, we partnered with research firm Egg Strategy to explore these questions and better understand how people—particularly Gen Z and Millennials—think about spirituality, religion, purpose, and belonging. Combining a national quantitative study of nearly 3,000 participants with in-depth qualitative research, the project examines the values and experiences shaping people's relationships with faith and religious institutions. The findings challenge some familiar assumptions: Spiritual curiosity does not necessarily translate into church participation, meaningful relationships and acceptance are central to people's sense of belonging, and institutional trust cannot be taken for granted.

This research offers an opportunity to rethink how churches connect with their communities, tell their stories, and create spaces where people feel welcomed and valued. We're sharing the findings, along with presentations and conversations that explore their implications, to help church leaders, communicators, and congregations put these insights into practice. The question isn't simply how to bring people back through our doors, but how to better understand what they're seeking—and how the Church might meet them there.mmon Good Series brings together two distinct shows with one shared purpose: putting real, current examples of faith rooted in belonging, purpose, and meaning in front of Gen Z and Millennial audiences.

explore The Research

Explore the full findings from our research into spirituality, belonging, and church engagement, including key insights and opportunities for congregations seeking to connect with younger generations.

Website button: View the Full Research Report

Research in Action

What do these findings mean for the life of the Church? Explore recordings, presentation slides, and conversations from Caffeinated Church's ongoing work with dioceses, congregations, and church leaders. Each presentation offers a different opportunity to consider how this research can inform our storytelling, outreach, community engagement, and approaches to belonging.

We'll continue adding resources as these conversations take place across the country.

• The Front Door Has Moved | Episcopal Diocese of Colorado | Diocesan Convention | 2026
  Presented by the Rev. Joseph Wolyniak and Ashley Graham-Wilcox
  What are Gen Z and Millennials really seeking from spiritual communities? This presentation explores the research findings on belonging, institutional trust, authentic relationships, and the changing ways younger generations encounter the Church.
  Presentation recording | Presentation slides

Bring the Research to Your Community

Interested in exploring what these findings mean for your congregation, diocese, synod, or organization? Members of the Caffeinated Church team are available to present the research and facilitate conversations about its implications for church communications, outreach, and community engagement.

We'd welcome the opportunity to share what we're learning and explore how these insights might inform your ministry.