Many churches, synagogues and mosques are built around families – and they’re struggling to respond to rising singles

Single women, in particular, often feel overlooked in church. Lawren/Moment via Getty Images

When a couple marry in a church, synagogue or mosque, the ceremony does more than sanctify a union. Often, it binds two families to an institution.

For centuries, marriage and child-rearing have been among the main ways adults are integrated into congregational life. Couples who share the same faith tend to be more observant, and they often raise children within that tradition – bringing the next generation into congregational life. More marriages mean more families in pews and more children raised in the faith.