There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
-Ephesians 4:4-6

Did you go to church this week?

If so, how many times?

The Religious News Service (RNS) released a June 2025 survey showing that 46% of churchgoers regularly attend more than one church each week (in person or virtually).

What!? Now I’m going to look at my congregation, wondering:

Are you cheating on me? With Baptists? With Family Life Church? You’re not going to mass, are you? And God forbid you’re watching another United Methodist Preacher!!!

Ahem.

This isn’t a brand-new phenomena, although I’m sure Covid has massively contributed to it. I noticed this with college students (Millennials) back in the early 2000’s.

Denominational loyalty? Not so much a thing.

Nowadays there are people of all ages who are more comfortable tuning into multiple sources, picking up the parts that resonate, and letting the other stuff slip away.

Patchwork Pilgrims. That’s what I’m going to call these folks. Those who build their faith wherever they can find it. Piece by piece, they’ve crafted a faith life that suits them.

These folks have learned a kind of ecumenism that few seminary-trained pastors can easily accept. Doctrine, polity, tradition? That stuff has taken a back seat to connection, relevance, and authenticity.

It’s interesting, but I still have questions.

What do you do when one church embraces gay people, and another church rejects them? Or when one church says your baptism elsewhere doesn’t count? What about a church that “tells” you the rules to follow, and another church that encourages wrestling and discernment?

If you witness a church covering up the radical grace of Jesus, I say rip that patch out. You’d be better off watching Netflix for an hour.

For me? I’m still serving up great big helpings of United Methodism. I genuinely believe John Wesley was onto something back in the 1700s, and despite our tough spots, I think we have a unique message for the world.

I’ll just hope that you see that.

But maybe this is where the future of religion lies–multiple streaming services. Hey, if this is what keeps churchgoers engaged and growing, I guess I’m all in. There’s something beautiful about people experiencing God in many ways and many places.

You Patchwork Pilgrims are still a bit of a mystery to me. I like to think that putting down roots can yield wonderful fruit. It’s possible to be grounded somewhere and open to any promptings of the Holy Spirit to keep searching.

We may come at our faith a little differently, but we can agree on one thing:

Worshiping God is binge-worthy.

Have a great week,

Mitch