But the most important question is: WHY!
Where do Southern Baptists go when they leave? The answer in one chart
Where do Southern Baptists go when they leave? The answer in one chart
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Which Baptist Groups are seeing a decline in membership
- Thread starter Salty
- Start date
According to my Mormon (LDS) friends out here in the West, the largest number of new converts to their cult are Baptists.
Sad testimonial of lack of biblical teaching/understanding provided in many Baptist churches. People there are starving for truth and don't even realize it.
Sad testimonial of lack of biblical teaching/understanding provided in many Baptist churches. People there are starving for truth and don't even realize it.
RighteousnessTemperance&
Well-Known Member
Perhaps more telling than the chart or the article itself is its response box: "How do you feel about this article?"
alexander284
Well-Known Member
I've heard precisely the same thing from the members of the LDS that I frequently encounter, as well.
alexander284
Well-Known Member
Since this article was published back in June 2016, it would be interesting to discover if this is still the case.
Wow a Steelers fan
The name of our Church is Christian Bible - but when founded it was IFCA, then left and was independent - they became SBC about 15 years ago - so they have never had the name baptist.
It is very doubtful that growth of a denomination is equivalent to spiritual health of the congregants. Many "seeker sensitive" churches have grown immensely due to their entertaining productions. Willow Creek Church in suburban Chicago has every theatrical gadget you can imagine with a professional band. Eagle Brook Church in suburban Mpls/St Paul is the same. Both churches have a revolving door of congregants who come for the entertainment. Only a small number become members who commit to accountability.
It is unsurprising that a lack of theological grounding results in movement to something else.
A favorite book on Church function is entitled "The Deliberate Church" by Paul Alexander and Mark Devers. Devers is Pastor of Capital Hill Baptist in Washington DC. Reading that book was an eye opener to growing a church community that unifies brothers and sisters in the church.
The Deliberate Church
It is unsurprising that a lack of theological grounding results in movement to something else.
A favorite book on Church function is entitled "The Deliberate Church" by Paul Alexander and Mark Devers. Devers is Pastor of Capital Hill Baptist in Washington DC. Reading that book was an eye opener to growing a church community that unifies brothers and sisters in the church.
The Deliberate Church
A reason for a loss of membership.
Well, in the SBC -could be churches are cleaning their roles.
I wonder how many people are still (officially) a member of 5 or 6 churches?
In addition, a few generations ago - it was not unusual for a family to have 6-10 kids,
most, if not all would end up joining the church of mom and dad.
Nowadays - the average family has 3.14 people - and many times that only includes one adult.
Average family size in the US 1960-2019 | Statista
Well, in the SBC -could be churches are cleaning their roles.
I wonder how many people are still (officially) a member of 5 or 6 churches?
In addition, a few generations ago - it was not unusual for a family to have 6-10 kids,
most, if not all would end up joining the church of mom and dad.
Nowadays - the average family has 3.14 people - and many times that only includes one adult.
Average family size in the US 1960-2019 | Statista
lanman87
Member
About 6 years ago I left a Southern Baptist church to go to a Non-Denominational Baptist church. By that I mean we aren't part of any Baptist Association but Theologically we are on the Reformed side of Southern Baptist (David Platt, Al Mohler and so forth) and most of our Pastoral Staff were educated at Southern Baptist seminaries. I still consider myself Baptist but I'm no longer Southern Baptist. I would say about 75% of our congregation (of around 500) came from Southern Baptist churches.
We left because we had issues with the culture at the church we attended. However, the church we joined was so radically different culturally that it took a while for it not to feel weird. (What do you mean we don't give to the Lottie Moon Offering, gasp). I'll admit I freaked out a little when I realized we didn't put on a VBS.
However, now that I'm used to it and understand the reasoning for the difference I think it is great.
We left because we had issues with the culture at the church we attended. However, the church we joined was so radically different culturally that it took a while for it not to feel weird. (What do you mean we don't give to the Lottie Moon Offering, gasp). I'll admit I freaked out a little when I realized we didn't put on a VBS.
However, now that I'm used to it and understand the reasoning for the difference I think it is great.
Lanman - may I mention that MANY Baptist churches are not part of any kind of association - local, State or National. They like to call themselves IFB - Independent Fundamental Baptist. They like to say that "No outside group tells us what to do" Well, much to their dismay, EVERY baptist church is independent - (notice in this sentence I used local case for independent). I am the pastor of a SBC affiliated church - and no one tells us what we have to do.
While that is correct for certain Baptists who are not part of any association or convention, some of us do not use the term or describe ourselves as Independent Fundamental Baptist. We are "independent" -- in the sense of being unaffiliated or not belonging to an association or convention. We believe the fundamentals of the faith. However, "Independent Fundamental Baptist" can often be a certain "flavor" that we don't always appreciate.
Thus the word "Many" and not "All"
Thanks for the clarification. It seemed like you were saying that the many Baptist churches who are not part of any kind of association all like to call themselves IFB - Independent Fundamental Baptist.
lanman87
Member
I wonder how many Southern Baptist are leaving for non-Southern Baptist (but still distinctively Baptist) churches?
From my limited experience, it seems that many are leaving for non-Denominational churches that have Baptist distinctives. While they may not have Baptist in their name and are not part of any local Baptist association- They are credo-baptist, evangelistic, Trinitarian and affirm traditional baptist doctrines. Their statement of faith is virtually identical to that of any Southern Baptist church.
I also know several people who have the Southern Baptist for the Presbyterian Church of America, which is the conservative Presbyterian denomination (as opposed to the Presbyterian Church USA). From what I've read, the PCA is one of the few denominations in the United States that is actually growing.
Back in the 60's and 70's many churches left the SBC to be IBf - but some have come back.
In addition, many Baptist churches and taken the name "baptist" out though actually remaining a Baptist church. The reason - espel up North is because many people will not attend a Baptist church.
Also - I have explaned about Bap associations - so no need to keep mentioning that.
I have read that JW claim the same thing!
Seems that might be due to being raised to honor the Bible and Jesus, but never committing to Him!