# What Churches Should Do About Inactive Members

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/rainer-on-leadership-3513494/what-churches-should-do-about-inactive-members
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/rainer-on-leadership-3513494/what-churches-should-do-about-inactive-members.md
Podcast: [Rainer on Leadership](https://stenobird.com/podcast/rainer-on-leadership-3513494)
Published: 2026-05-20T16:19:45+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-churches-should-do-about-inactive-members--72085629
Audio file: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72085629/rol_ep1030_audio.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/rainer-on-leadership-3513494/episodes/what-churches-should-do-about-inactive-members
Duration seconds: 1385

## Resource

In this episode, Josh and Sam address a widespread reality in many churches: bloated membership rolls and shrinking attendance. Across North America, millions of names remain on church rolls even though those people haven’t attended in months... or years. In some cases, membership lists are four or five times larger than actual weekly worship attendance. The result? Confusion, unhealthy metrics, and weakened accountability. A growing number of congregations are rethinking the issue: clarifying expectations, tightening processes, and distinguishing between truly inactive members and those with legitimate life circumstances.

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## Transcript

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