3 Important Church Trends in the Next 10 Years: Christianity in the USA may look very different

Christianity Today ^ | 04/24/2015 | Ed Stetzer

[SeekAndFind]

As someone who both cares about the mission of the church and leads a research organization, I watch the trends in the church and the culture.

Occasionally, someone asks me to share some thoughts on the big picture, in the case of the North American context, questions related to "streams" of Protestantism.

Based on research, statistics, extrapolation, and (I hope) some insight, I notice 3 important trends continuing in the next 10 years.

Trend #1: The Hemorrhaging of Mainline Protestantism

This trend is hardly news—mainliners will tell you of this hemorrhaging and of their efforts to reverse it. Mainline Protestantism is perhaps the best known portion of Protestantism, often represented by what are called the "seven sisters" of the mainline churches. Mainline churches are more than these, but these seven are the best known, perhaps:

United Methodist Church

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

Episcopal Church

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

American Baptist Churches

United Church of Christ (UCC)

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

They tend to fall on the progressive side of the theological continuum, but there is diversity of theology as well (Methodists, as a whole, are probably most conservative, for example).

Mainline Protestantism is in trouble and in substantive decline. Some are trying to reverse this, through evangelism and church planting initiatives.

However, this is an uphill battle and, as a whole, mainline Protestantism will continue its slide.

[Star Traveler]

Yes, they are specific groups, and as I see (upon further looking) specifically refer to “mainline” churches, which also seems to have a specific meaning ... :-) ...

[Lonely Bull]

On referring to the American Baptists in particular:

Thanks, I missed that. It looks like they are ‘cherry picking’ their ‘denominations.’

I think it more likely that the piece simply mentions a list of churches usually considered mainline, and one is simply called the American Baptists. The name is generally not as familiar as "Southern Baptists" and may be confusing--even though there are still quite a few American Baptists around, and even though the denomination has an established presence and history. I was unfamiliar with the American Baptists for some time, and I'm not far away from at least one of their churches.

A similar example would probably be "The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)" if that group hadn't taken the additional label. Not every "Christian church," of course, is a member of "The Christian Church." (I wouldn't say that the confusion was intended per se, but there was a deliberate choice behind it: the movement behind this group never intended to be a "denomination" and instead intended to unite the scattered denominations. The goal is still far off.)

[Lonely Bull]

The other two trends for those who don’t wish to go to the site:

Trend #2: Continued Growth of Pentecostalism and the Charismatic Movement

I did go to the site, and under this heading is this:

The second thing I think you’re going to continue to see is the continued growth of Pentecostalism and the charismatic movement. The Charismatics and Pentecostals have already won the worship war—most churches are now comfortable with what would be "Calvary Chapel" worship in 1980.

What does the "in 1980" part mean here? Even though I don't know exactly, I have an idea that 1980 is simply a round number referring to a time when "traditional" services were more common and "Calvary Chapel" may have been shorthand for "contemporary." Although I've had little experience with people calling themselves Charismatic or Pentecostal (and I've never heard anyone using a prayer tongue, for example), I've had more than a little experience with services that use a fair bit of Contemporary Christian Music.

And what do you readers think of the "worship war"?

[Shery]

So. Baptists are not among the American Baptist groups. Very different. I grew up in American Baptist churches and they have veered way over into the social gospel of liberalism. Not for me. So Baptists are far more true to Scripture.

[Star Traveler]

Here’s something that clarifies this ... the American Baptist Churches (as a denomination) are not the Sothern Baptist Convention. AND ... the Southern Baptist Convention is not “mainline” (with mainline being a specific designation) whereas the American Baptist Churches (the denomination) is specifically “mainline”. I guess it’s all in the definitions ... :-) ...

— — —

Some denominations with similar names and historical ties to mainline groups are not considered mainline. The Southern Baptist Convention, Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA), the Churches of Christ, the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), and the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) are often considered too conservative for this category and thus grouped as evangelical.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainline_Protestant

[Star Traveler]

Actually, no, they are not “cherry picking” this for the article. In looking at it further, myself, I see these churches are in a long-standing and understood designation, from their historical roots. You’ll notice that the article refers to them as the “seven sisters” of Mainline Protestantism. This is apparently an established designation.

I can’t say how the designation came about, but I can see it’s there and established ... :-) ...

Quoting ... “The largest mainline churches are sometimes referred to as the ‘Seven Sisters of American Protestantism’. The term was apparently coined by William Hutchison.”

Mainline Protestant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainline_Protestant

[Iscool]

Trying to tie the Baptist churches in with the progressive main line religions is ridiculous...

[Iscool]

Some good comments at the site since they did not address the growth of Catholicism.

Let 'er grow...The bigger and ecumenical the Catholic religion gets, the sooner we know Jesus is coming back...And He's not coming to Rome...

[Star Traveler]

They are listing one particular denomination that has been known as one of the “mainline” churches ... and also being included in the list of the “Seven Sisters”.

One has to apparently have context and know “definitions” for it to make sense ... :-) ...

[StormPrepper]

How many churches will be left that don't support Homosexual marriage?

The Mormons will not support Homosexual marriage.

From TheGuardian

L Tom Perry, a high-ranking church leader, cautioned Mormons on Saturday not to be swayed by a world filled with media and entertainment that makes the minority seem like the majority and tries to make mainstream values seem obsolete.

Perry said strong, traditional families are the basic units of a stable society, a stable economy and a stable culture of values. He said the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would continue to be a leading voice on the issue.

“We want our voice to be heard against all of the counterfeit and alternative lifestyles that try to replace the family organisation that God Himself established,”

[BRL]

They lost half their members but the gays get all the assets. That is what really fries me