In a recent (July 9, 2006) issue of the Los Angeles Times, Charlotte Allen, a Catholic, published a scathing analysis of the moral and doctrinal decline of American mainline evangelical denominations. The Episcopal Church USA and Presbyterians receive the brunt of the attack. An overview:
1. Liberal Christianity was embraced in the 1960s by the leadership of many mainline Protestant denominations as the future of the Christian church. However, each of the denominations who embraced liberal doctrinal positions (e.g., wincing at the exclusivity of Christ) are now in steep demographic decline if not overt disintegration.
2. In 1960, mainline churches (Episcopals, Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, and the like) constituted 40% of all American Protestants. Today, it is closer to 12%. In 1965, there were 3.4 million Episcopalians; now, there are 2.3 million. In the same time, the number of Presbyterians fell from 4.3 million to 2.5 million. By contrast, the Southern Baptist denomination counts 16 million members. (Ref: Hartford Institute of Religious Research)
3. Mainline churches pioneered the ordination of women. Today, women make up 25% of all Episcopal priests as well as 29% of Presbyterian pastors. Other trends exhibited by these denominations include the growing toleration of same-sex marriages or cohabitation, and the degradation of the Trinity into trite platitudes such as “Rock, Redeemer, and Friend.” (Wayne Grudem ably presents the trend that mainline denominations which first embrace egalitarianism later have significant numbers favoring the acceptance of same-sex unions.)
4. Evangelical churches which preach biblical morality, affirm the Lordship of Christ, and eschew women’s ordination are growing robustly in the USA and around the world.
It is unfortunate that the article does not breakdown the term “Presbyterians.” Clearly, there are more conservative and more liberal Presbyterian denominations — it’d be interesting to see more data distinguishing these. Allen does note that PC(USA) has been in financial straits for several years.
The irony of Allen’s piece is that what was said to be the “future” of Christianity is looking more like a dying relic. Allen’s sometimes humorous article is worth reading in its entirety.
(HT: Nick Nowalk)
For further reading on this theme, see Albert Mohler’s excellent piece “The Cutting Edge Has No Edge.”