Comparison of growing mainline congregations and declining congregations

[rlvaughn]

Across the English-speaking world the numerical decline of mainline Protestantism is accelerating. The largest mainline Protestant denominations in the United States are the United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Episcopal Church. Collectively, membership in these denominations decreases by about 1 million a year, resulting in hundreds of church closures annually...We tracked down an elusive sample of growing mainline congregations and compared them to a sample of declining congregations. We surveyed more than 2,200 of the congregants, half attending growing churches and half at declining churches, and the clergy who serve them...We found, without exception, the clergy and congregants of the growing mainline Protestant churches held more firmly to traditional Christian beliefs...

From Why conservative churches grow and liberal churches shrink in the Dallas Morning News

 

[Bro. James]

What about the New Testament Churches? Yes, the ones which are not part of the so-called Protestant Reformation of Rome. This article refers to groups that are still seriously confused about baptism and the efficacy thereof.

Ecumenism is alive and well on planet earth.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Bro. James

 

[rlvaughn]

The survey "is what it is". The denominations referenced are United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Episcopal Church. I would say these groups are "seriously confused" about a lot more things than just baptism. Nevertheless, I found the survey and the article interesting.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

As news, this report is right up there with what religion is the Pope and what do bears do in the woods.
The question is, what do we do with it? How do we make contact with these disappearing church-goers and get them to move to a Bible-believing church rather than staying home and washing the car on a Sunday morning?

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Excellent article.

 

[just-want-peace]

Personally, I am a firm believer in the literalness of the bible, except where the text/context or outright stated that "this is a parable" etc.
When one decides to arbitrarily decide that "this" is just allegorical just because it is not "my reality", then what is to preclude one deciding that "that" is also not literal?
Before long there is no meat in scripture, as it has all been allegorized, so it's no wonder it has become just another religious book, like thousands of others!