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Bush Library controversy: Who's really "disconnected"?
Issue date: 3/21/07 Section: Opinion
Since the fall of the old Soviet bloc, IRD has become more involved in the cultural and theological battles within the mainline churches. Basically, we believe that churches should uphold their historic doctrines. We also believe that the institutional church is most faithful to the Gospel and best serves society when it avoids routine detailed political involvements.
For example, all of the mainline denominations maintain lobby offices on Capitol Hill and routinely support and oppose legislation in the name of their churches, almost always from a liberal perspective. Is this really the correct priority for churches?
Meanwhile, and revealingly, a majority of church-going mainline Protestants continue to vote for conservative political candidates over liberal ones. More importantly, all of the mainline Protestants are suffering steep membership decline that is now entering its fifth decade. Forty years ago, one out of every six Americans belonged to a mainline church. Today, it's one out of every fifteen.
Yet the overall rates of religious practice and church attendance in America have remained remarkably stable over the last 70 years. About 40 percent of Americans attend church regularly. But rather than going to Presbyterian, Methodist or Episcopalian churches, they are now increasingly going to evangelical non-denominational churches. And contrary to stereotypes, surveys show that these new, growing churches, even though their members may vote conservatively, by and large abstain from direct political involvements.
Growing churches, in America and around the world, are not consumed by debates over sexual ethics or key theological issues such as Christ's virgin birth or bodily resurrection. They take for granted Christianity's historic teachings, and they focus their energies instead on proclaiming God's Word and changing lives.
Does it help the declining mainline churches for many of their officials and clergy, like the Rev. Kandeler, to blame their critics? Would it not be more helpful to examine more carefully why these churches are losing members, and to focus instead on issues that unite rather than divide most Christians?
For example, all of the mainline denominations maintain lobby offices on Capitol Hill and routinely support and oppose legislation in the name of their churches, almost always from a liberal perspective. Is this really the correct priority for churches?
Meanwhile, and revealingly, a majority of church-going mainline Protestants continue to vote for conservative political candidates over liberal ones. More importantly, all of the mainline Protestants are suffering steep membership decline that is now entering its fifth decade. Forty years ago, one out of every six Americans belonged to a mainline church. Today, it's one out of every fifteen.
Yet the overall rates of religious practice and church attendance in America have remained remarkably stable over the last 70 years. About 40 percent of Americans attend church regularly. But rather than going to Presbyterian, Methodist or Episcopalian churches, they are now increasingly going to evangelical non-denominational churches. And contrary to stereotypes, surveys show that these new, growing churches, even though their members may vote conservatively, by and large abstain from direct political involvements.
Growing churches, in America and around the world, are not consumed by debates over sexual ethics or key theological issues such as Christ's virgin birth or bodily resurrection. They take for granted Christianity's historic teachings, and they focus their energies instead on proclaiming God's Word and changing lives.
Does it help the declining mainline churches for many of their officials and clergy, like the Rev. Kandeler, to blame their critics? Would it not be more helpful to examine more carefully why these churches are losing members, and to focus instead on issues that unite rather than divide most Christians?
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 5
Ben
posted 3/21/07 @ 3:48 AM EST
If what you say is true (that 'mainline elites' are disconnected with the body of the UMC general membership) then I can understand the growing disdain for evangelical Christianity amongst many Americans. (Continued…)
Matt
posted 3/22/07 @ 12:25 PM EST
Ben, it's never a good idea to bring only a knife to a gun fight. If you don't think Jesus would approve of "political posturing" then it's not a far leap to think he wouldn't approve of the United Methodist Church as a whole. (Continued…)
Scott Rewak
posted 3/22/07 @ 5:01 PM EST
Mr. Tooley,
Thank you for writing. I have a few comments. First off, you did not address the disconnect that Rev. Kandeler pointed out between the Administration and the UMC. (Continued…)
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