Start With Why.

It’s more than simple church decline.

The numbers tell a story that should make us all pause: Women comprise more than 60% of church attendance in America. But David Morrow’s book, “Why Men Hate Going To Church” reveals that it is about more than attendance; it’s about understanding human nature and how to create an environment.

Churches have shifted toward a style that is comfortable for the stereotypical woman—at the expense of the stereotypical man.

When men describe church as boring, irrelevant, or full of hypocrites, perception is reality. This disconnect represents a fundamental misunderstanding of how different people connect with purpose and meaning.

The broader context reveals the urgency: Monthly, committed churchgoers are now about half as common as they were two decades ago, according to Barna Research. While there’s been encouraging news about Millennial church attendance increasing from 21 percent to 39 percent since 2019, the challenge remains that churches are systematically losing an entire demographic. We think those statistics are very generous, as some evidence shows a small uptick, but not a huge percentage swing among this age demographic.

Our experience at Wild & Kingdom is that GEN Z and Millennials may be going to church a bit more than the declining trends, they are not going to the megachurch campuses.

The reason behind the problem of why men hate going to church lies in cultural misalignment.

Churches are primarily designed to reach a female audience; church reflects a female culture, not a male culture. This isn’t about stereotypes—it’s about recognizing that different people are motivated by different approaches to community, service, and spiritual growth.

Don’t believe it? Start with the decor in the church itself.

Does your church look more like you just walked into Pottery Barn or a does it look like you walked into any form of decor that speaks of strength?

You know it already. Churches are designed to appeal to women. From the jump.

The solution starts with intentionality. Churches must develop robust men’s ministry programs that go beyond token men’s bible study sessions. Effective men’s spirituality initiatives require various avenues of positive pressure.

First, create challenge-based engagement. Men often connect with faith through action and challenge rather than passive consumption. Men’s bible study should involve problem-solving, debate, and practical application rather than just discussion.

Second, redesign the environment. The Pinetops Foundation and similar organizations demonstrate that men respond to environments that feel authentic and mission-driven. This means creating spaces where men can engage with their whole selves—their competitive nature, their desire to fix things, their need for clear objectives.

Third, address the leadership gap. Men are less likely to lead, volunteer, and give in the church. This creates a cycle where fewer male role models exist, making it harder to attract and retain men.

The solution isn’t to abandon what works for women—it’s to expand the model. Churches need both contemplative and action-oriented approaches. They need both relational and task-focused ministry opportunities. Most importantly, they need leaders who understand that the goal isn’t to get men to behave like women in church, but to create space for authentic masculine spirituality alongside feminine approaches.

When churches understand this why—that different people connect with the divine through different pathways—they can begin to reverse the church decline that affects everyone. Because when men are engaged, families are strengthened, communities are transformed, and the church fulfills its mission more completely.

The question isn’t whether churches can afford to change—it’s whether they can afford not to.

One of our Wild & Kingdom episodes hit hard on this topic.

Navy SEAL Sniper Sam Mackey, now the CEO of OUTSIDER, joins up with legendary Christian songwriter Jesse Reeves to tackle this conversation.

Click the cover below to watch it.