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+---- Thread: Liberal Churches are Dying, but Conservative Churches are Thriving (/thread-805450.html)
Liberal Churches are Dying, but Conservative Churches are Thriving - Murray007 - 01-13-2017 08:06 PM
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/01/04/liberal-churches-are-dying-but-conservative-churches-are-thriving/?utm_term=.b760d93237fd
The main study addressed in the article was done in Canada, but there are significant connections between Christian congregations in the USA and Canada.
No mention of the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Churches, but I would suspect they would fall on the 'conservative' side of the line.
The article specifically mentions the following as 'liberal' church bodies: "United Methodist, Evangelical Lutheran (ELCA), Presbyterian (U.S.A.) and Episcopal churches."
I wonder how non-denominational churches were addressed in the study, because those types of churches often have varying theology. Maybe non-denominational churches are not really a thing up in Canada?
Have you all seen this type of development recently in your area of the country?
RE: Liberal Churches are Dying, but Conservative Churches are Thriving - UCGrad1992 - 01-14-2017 09:34 AM
How abut churches with a conservative message - the truth in God's Holy Scriptures - that rely on more non-traditional means for delivery of the message? How about geogaphic location of churches as a factor of growth vs. decline?
I live in a part of the southern bible belt, and as a general observation, churches are still doing quite well down here. My church in particular is Southern Baptist and we have committed to a second expansion project (in the last 10 years) in the neighborhood of $7 million. We currently average about 1,200-1,500 on campus every Sunday to include two separate worship service times. I wouldn't characterize our church currently as a "mega-church" but with our expansion it probably would fall within that category.
I love our church because it is bible-truth-based and conservative in application but our Pastor has the ability to put Scripture in a Sermon format that is appealing to everyday folks. He uses large screens to show scripture, the sermon outline and other IT media related items that relate to the Sermon. We also have wireless connectivity in our church so folks (younger) can follow along on their smart phones or tablets.
We also utilize a modern worship music experience with a live band (drums, bass, guitar, etc.) that attracts new members and engages the congregation in worship. Not to mention a pre-school, K-5th, middle school and high school group ministries (no longer deemed Sunday School) that have their own secured areas to include a parent check-in area and cameras. We also provide a coffee shop with light food items that is very popular for folks early in the morning.
I guess I feel blessed that I am part of a church that is thriving and my experience as a member for the past 14 years has been overwhelmingly positive for my family.
RE: Liberal Churches are Dying, but Conservative Churches are Thriving - AdoptedMonarch - 01-14-2017 09:44 AM
(01-13-2017 08:06 PM)Murray007 Wrote: https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/01/04/liberal-churches-are-dying-but-conservative-churches-are-thriving/?utm_term=.b760d93237fd
The main study addressed in the article was done in Canada, but there are significant connections between Christian congregations in the USA and Canada.
No mention of the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Churches, but I would suspect they would fall on the 'conservative' side of the line.
The article specifically mentions the following as 'liberal' church bodies: "United Methodist, Evangelical Lutheran (ELCA), Presbyterian (U.S.A.) and Episcopal churches."
I wonder how non-denominational churches were addressed in the study, because those types of churches often have varying theology. Maybe non-denominational churches are not really a thing up in Canada?
Have you all seen this type of development recently in your area of the country?
Speaking just for myself, I stopped attending my local Presbyterian Church some years back.
Partly because I was only ever feeling any spiritual connection when I was alone, and not in the company of others.
And partly because I tired of the passive-but-never-ending progressive-leaning lectures.
RE: Liberal Churches are Dying, but Conservative Churches are Thriving - HarmonOliphantOberlanderDevine - 01-14-2017 10:44 AM
Conservative churches on the whole offer something firm to rely on. Liberal churches are more feel good.
RE: Liberal Churches are Dying, but Conservative Churches are Thriving - Bull_Is_Back - 01-14-2017 12:05 PM
A liberal church tends to be like a country club. At some point you realize you're not getting fed the gospel and you either find a doctrinally sound church or stay home and watch football.
RE: Liberal Churches are Dying, but Conservative Churches are Thriving - bullet - 01-14-2017 12:18 PM
(01-13-2017 08:06 PM)Murray007 Wrote: https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/01/04/liberal-churches-are-dying-but-conservative-churches-are-thriving/?utm_term=.b760d93237fd
The main study addressed in the article was done in Canada, but there are significant connections between Christian congregations in the USA and Canada.
No mention of the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Churches, but I would suspect they would fall on the 'conservative' side of the line.
The article specifically mentions the following as 'liberal' church bodies: "United Methodist, Evangelical Lutheran (ELCA), Presbyterian (U.S.A.) and Episcopal churches."
I wonder how non-denominational churches were addressed in the study, because those types of churches often have varying theology. Maybe non-denominational churches are not really a thing up in Canada?
Have you all seen this type of development recently in your area of the country?
The mainstream protestants have been declining since the 60s. The Methodists much slower than the others, but it has accelerated the last couple of decades.
That Methodism focused on individuals and had churches ranging from fundamentalist to very liberal was a strength. But I think as our nation is becoming more polarized, they are now facing the same forces the other mainstream protest churches have.
RE: Liberal Churches are Dying, but Conservative Churches are Thriving - rath v2.0 - 01-14-2017 12:41 PM
(01-14-2017 10:44 AM)HarmonOliphantOberlanderDevine Wrote: Conservative churches on the whole offer something firm to rely on. Liberal churches are more feel good.
They usually have good coffee, though.
RE: Liberal Churches are Dying, but Conservative Churches are Thriving - olliebaba - 01-14-2017 07:23 PM
Liberal churches would be as if Tommy was giving the sermon. Conservative churches would be as if Ericsrevenge was the pastor. A BIG DIFFERENCE.
RE: Liberal Churches are Dying, but Conservative Churches are Thriving - NYC native - 01-15-2017 12:17 PM
I was a member of a liberal Protestant church. I'm a conservative and the only part that I found objectionable was when the church leadership took a political stance, like denouncing Israel for defending itself. If the church's leadership stayed out of politics, the church itself would be fine.
RE: Liberal Churches are Dying, but Conservative Churches are Thriving - AdoptedMonarch - 01-15-2017 02:37 PM
(01-14-2017 07:23 PM)olliebaba Wrote: Liberal churches would be as if Tommy was giving the sermon. Conservative churches would be as if Ericsrevenge was the pastor. A BIG DIFFERENCE.
Hah! Not being a regular on this spin room forum, I thought that your mention of "Tommy" was to the rock-opera character created by The Who, and I was guessing that there must be some new age band named "EricsRevenge". (It would be a great band name, b.t.w.)
I see now that those are regular posters, of whom perhaps I should becemoe familiar if I am actually going to post here.