I’m a dating expert – here’s why Gen Z is ditching bars for bibles to meet the love of their life

THE art of dating can be as abstract as a painting on a wall. And in the confusion of the internet age, some lovesick Gen Z have retired their thumbs from swiping in favor of a more timeworn approach – good old-fashioned church. Love coach Nicole Moore explains how church has become the new Tinder Credit: Nicole Moore Anthony Gross and Kate DePetro started Pizza to Pews in New York City and with it a conversation on Gen Z faith across the country Credit: Kate DePetro and Anthony Gross “Church has become the new Tinder because young people are simply looking at relationships differently than generations prior,” Nicole Moore, love expert and founder of Love Works, tells The U.S. Sun. “Where previous generations saw getting into a relationship as a status symbol goal to achieve, often with sacrifice or compromise in mind, the younger generation tends to only want a relationship if it’s the right fit.” Sign up for the Fabulous newsletter Thank you! The tone shift doesn’t mean a night out at the bars can’t result in a love connection, but indicates Gen Z is carrying with them traditions held dear to their hearts, Moore explains. Family time and a Sunday church ritual where everyone piled into the car can fulfill a desire for something deeper, and it’s a way to connect with someone over intimate values. Kate DePetro and Anthony Gross, the founders of Pizza to Pews in New York City, can attest to the rising demand for fellowship and faith. They spoke with The U.S. Sun about how their gatherings start off with pizza followed by a walk to Sunday evening mass and amassed to a 300-strong community. Gross described how social media plays a role in how faith is perceived. “The cool thing about social media, this is the purest form of social proof that ‘this’ is ok,” Gross says. Most read in Lifestyle “Faith isn’t only about someone in their forties or fifties with the family going to church. Faith can be fun. Faith is hip.” While their gatherings bring together strangers becoming friends, the two admitted there have been some love connections, or at least dates, among some of its Pizza to Pews members. “Gen Z is really done with the apps and trying to meet someone at a bars and other aspects,” DePetro says. “You come to church and the people you meet probably want to get married and have kids. There’s a common ground.” Pizza to Pews is growing with what they call “slices” – basically, chapters or ambassadors bringing the Pizza to Pews movement to their city. Church isn’t one-size-fits-all. A congregation has different personalities, and Gen Z knows when a church is the right fit. Once that’s established, Mr. or Ms. Right may be sitting right next to you. “Daters are turning to church as the new Tinder because they perceive fellow churchgoers as typically more interested in finding a real relationship than seeking a fling,” Moore says. Churches have organized social gatherings for its congregations – giving people a chance to meet. Even volunteering or attending social functions provides a way “in” to meet new people. “So some churches run dedicated single and social events in their community as a way to bring people together,” James Preece, dating coach, tells The U.S. Sun. “They are united by similar beliefs, values, interests, and life goals. It’s this instant common ground that allows people to bond quickly and make a deeper, more meaningful connection.” Dating coach James Preece explains how a shared enjoyment of church allows people to bond quicker Credit: James Preece “Younger daters these days come from a generation of parents with a near 50 percent divorce rate, so they’re now trying to optimize for compatibility from the start as a way to try and avoid breakups or divorce,” adds Moore. Divorce has been declining since the early 1980s when it reached its peak at 22.6 divorces for every 1,000 married women, according to the Pew Research Center. But with social media woven into daily lives, Gen Z is looking for real connections beyond what can be perceived as “perfect” in a post. “Many younger daters have gotten tired of online dating culture that seems to promote endless hookups or misaligned dates and they’re looking for other outlets to find a partner who is a true match,” Moore explains. “These daters are not relying anymore on a dating app algorithm to hopefully send a like-minded person their way, they’re going straight to a place where people already share their faith and values.” Comment now