Dave Shiflett on Christianity in America on National Review Online
National Review Online has an excellent article written by Dave Shiflett on Christianity in America. In his article he describes what appears to be a movement in America away from "progressive" or "liberal" churches towards more traditional and conservative ones. Quoting a recent study by the Glenmary Research Center, Shiflett says,
"Progressive churches are progressing, it seems, ever closer to oblivion. The Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (11,106 churches) has experienced a decline of 11.6 percent over the previous ten years; the United Methodist Church (35,721 churches) was down 6.7 percent; and the Episcopal Church (7,314 churches) lost 5.3 percent of its membership. Also, the United Churches of Christ (5,863 churches) declined 14.8 percent while the American Baptist Churches USA were down 5.7 percent.
"The denominations showing growth included the deeply conservative Southern Baptist Convention, a collection of 41,514 churches, whose overall growth rate was 5 percent. The traditionalist Presbyterian Church in America (as opposed the mainline Presbyterian Church U.S.A.) experienced an impressive 42.4 percent increase, while the Christian and Missionary Alliance rose 21.8 percent. Meanwhile, the Evangelical Free Church was up 57.2 percent, and Pentecostal denominations also boomed. The Assemblies of God, with 11,880 churches, saw 18.5 percent growth, while the Church of God, with 5,612 churches, saw growth of 40.2 percent."
Shiflett also makes reference to the Orthodox Church in America. He says that people who are tired of liberalism and "God-lite" are "fleeing into Orthodoxy." I find this true, especially among younger, non-baby boomer, Christians. People today are more and more interested in substance.
I for one am saddened by the course that my home denomination (UMC) has taken the last several decades. The UMC demands that their pastors be educated at a Methodist seminary, and all the Methodist seminaries have long ago gone liberal. Hence the trickle-down effect that has created quite a loud contingency of liberals who want to throw out Scripture along with God in order to make room for The Human Rights Campaign. Fortunately, there are still many many good conservative Methodists who haven't "jumped ship." This "remnant" is holding its ground and as a result the denomination's position on key issues has been firmed up in recent years.
I may be disappointed in the direction my denomination has gone in the last 30-40 years, but I am proud of my heritage and proud of my roots, and I do not think that the answer to the problem is abandonment. You can't fix a problem if you're not around. There's nothing redemptive in desertion.
"Progressive churches are progressing, it seems, ever closer to oblivion. The Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (11,106 churches) has experienced a decline of 11.6 percent over the previous ten years; the United Methodist Church (35,721 churches) was down 6.7 percent; and the Episcopal Church (7,314 churches) lost 5.3 percent of its membership. Also, the United Churches of Christ (5,863 churches) declined 14.8 percent while the American Baptist Churches USA were down 5.7 percent.
"The denominations showing growth included the deeply conservative Southern Baptist Convention, a collection of 41,514 churches, whose overall growth rate was 5 percent. The traditionalist Presbyterian Church in America (as opposed the mainline Presbyterian Church U.S.A.) experienced an impressive 42.4 percent increase, while the Christian and Missionary Alliance rose 21.8 percent. Meanwhile, the Evangelical Free Church was up 57.2 percent, and Pentecostal denominations also boomed. The Assemblies of God, with 11,880 churches, saw 18.5 percent growth, while the Church of God, with 5,612 churches, saw growth of 40.2 percent."
Shiflett also makes reference to the Orthodox Church in America. He says that people who are tired of liberalism and "God-lite" are "fleeing into Orthodoxy." I find this true, especially among younger, non-baby boomer, Christians. People today are more and more interested in substance.
I for one am saddened by the course that my home denomination (UMC) has taken the last several decades. The UMC demands that their pastors be educated at a Methodist seminary, and all the Methodist seminaries have long ago gone liberal. Hence the trickle-down effect that has created quite a loud contingency of liberals who want to throw out Scripture along with God in order to make room for The Human Rights Campaign. Fortunately, there are still many many good conservative Methodists who haven't "jumped ship." This "remnant" is holding its ground and as a result the denomination's position on key issues has been firmed up in recent years.
I may be disappointed in the direction my denomination has gone in the last 30-40 years, but I am proud of my heritage and proud of my roots, and I do not think that the answer to the problem is abandonment. You can't fix a problem if you're not around. There's nothing redemptive in desertion.
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