ANNALS OF THE WEST: AN EXTENSION OF TRADITIONAL VALUES

BY PASSING OFF ORTHODOX BELIEFS AS "CRAP"
FORMER PRESIDING EPISCOPAL BISHOP KATHERINE SCHORRI
 ABETS HER CHURCH'S DECLINING NUMBERS CRISIS

THE DEATH SPIRAL OF 

MAINLINE CHRISTIANITY:  JOHN B. EXAMINES THE DECLINE 
OF
MAINLINE CHURCHES

The late conservative thinker Russell Kirk once noted that, owing to the close relationship between religion and culture, the deterioration of religion would invariably lead to a decline of culture.

If Kirk were alive today, it is certain that he would view 21st century America as confirmation of his dire view of the interconnected nature of religious and cultural decline. However, is it a matter of a debased culture  influencing religion, or could it be the other way around, as suggested by Kirk, and culture in decline could be the result of a deteriorating religious base?

A consideration of what have been called the "mainline" churches is illuminating.  Mainline Protestant churches would include Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, the United Church of Christ, American Baptists and some Lutheran denominations.  With a total of 31 million adherents in 1955, the mainliners today number slightly less than 20 million.  It should be kept in mind, too, that at the same time the population of the United States has  soared from 175 million to 310 million.  Thus, the plight of traditional American Protestantism becomes clear.  Mainline churches are in a demographic death spiral.

In the the Episcopal Church in the U.S., the decline has been nothing short of tragic.  I specifically recall that in 1960, the Episcopal Church numbered some 3.5 million parishioners.  Now the number stands at approximately 1.8 million. At the same time, the mother church and the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury have placed the Episcopal Church on a three-year suspension in participating in Anglican-wide policy making and decision-making.  In this regard, the Episcopal Church is currently considering degenderizing its prayer book and even using gender neutral pronouns in the liturgy.  For example, not a few Episcopalian clerics are now in favor of changing the Lord's Prayer to "Our creator who art in Heaven...." instead of "Our Father who are in Heaven......"

Various reasons are given for the decline. Some would have us believe that, since non-mainline Christians are statistically younger than mainliners, their birthrate naturally outstrips the older established churches.  Coupled with a trend toward more emphasis on individualism beginning in the mid-1960's with favored children of the middle class, the mainline pews are more likely to be filled - if they are filled at all - with senior citizens, a factor which further accelerates the religious death spiral.

Another interpretation has it that the established churches have for several generations been eroding the core beliefs of Christian dogma.  Later generations of believers, in comparison with their ancestors, have been much more likely to imbibe the academic theological nihilism and agnosticism encountered in higher education, and the result has been an accommodation of those denominations with the prevailing intellectual currents.  Significantly, approximately 52% of mainline baby boomers would be of the opinion that non-Christian religions are just as effective in leading their adherents to right action and spiritual growth, and that the teachings of Christ are in no way the only means to salvation.

THE NEW FACE OF A RESURGENT AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY?

Just as the nation as a whole has come under the sway of an elite political culture which has been out of touch with middle America, so also have the mainline churches come under the leadership of a theological elite with the tendency to place the causes which it champions ahead of the witnessing and obedience demanded by the essentials of the Christian faith.  On the other hand, those fundamentalist and evangelical groups which have shown explosive growth are not afraid to ask for commitment and obedience from their members.

CHURCH FLYING GAY RAINBOW FLAG

Although mainline denominations, in their progressiveness and liberalism, have considered themselves advocates for minorities, minority Americans shun those denominations in favor of fundamentalism and evangelicalism.  In their haste to come up with a rationalization for this trend, the mainliners are quick to say that the simplistic theology of non-traditional denominations is the appeal to less well-educated cohorts of the population.  But, by serving up generous portions of Christianity-lite with a multitude of theological interpretations, a strong argument may be made that the mainliners are, in effect, confusing the forest for the trees.  And, when one comes down to the real nub of the matter, when essences are not truly clear they are likely not to be truly understood.

From the perspective of Two for Texas, it is may be said without equivocation that the mainline death spiral is far more the result of the liberal denominations inculcating their ranks, from seminaries to local churches, with the issues and causes of the day and panning off amorphous theological points of view as a "new orthodoxy."

It is no longer unusual to find some mainline parishes flying the LGBT rainbow flag.  In fact, in many parishes, it is more likely that you will hear more about same-sex marriage and immigration reform than about the Beatitudes.  No wonder that, in confusing belief with cause and the prevalence of a choose-what-you-want-to- believe theology, there is not much to commit to in mainline churches.  As a comparison of fundamentalist churches and mainline churches shows a much lower rate of tithing with mainline groups,  it would seem that the bottom line is that financial support is an accurate barometer of commitment.

The most committed Christian environment in which I ever had the occasion to worship was in a Muslim country, where I lived for 6 years.  In that environment, the only religion tolerated was Islam, which meant that those of us who worshiped together as Christians  did so with the threat of government action hanging over our heads.  In such a circumstance, commitment was paramount.  And, in a real sense, this type of commitment is missing in much of today's American version of Christianity.  Those denominations which demand commitment from adherents who inhabit what is increasingly a pagan culture are those showing growth.  Could it be that  Christians still crave discipline, a fundamental theology and a straight forward approach to expressing the essentials of their faith? The present course of American Christianity would seem to be pointing in that direction.

Deo vindice!

God bless Texas and may the Lone Star State remain forever red!