Are the Mainline Protestant Churches in Decline?

[Peter_DiMitri]

I’ve read and heard that Evangelicals, Mormons and Catholics are actually growing in number in the U.S., but that the Mainline Protestant denominations are losing members, and have been for quite some time.

I have a few questions about this.

1 – Is this the case? How extensive is the decline in numbers?

2 – What are the causes of this?

3 – What is the reaction of the denominational leaders?

4 – Is there a sense that the decline is irreversible?

I’m not starting this thread to get into Protestant bashing. I’m totally Catholic, but I’m always interested in the crosscurrents of Christrianity, and I’d like to know more about what is happening in the Protestant world.

Can anyone elucidate any of these issues for me?

 

[sandmountainsli]

I’ve read and heard that Evangelicals, Mormons and Catholics are actually growing in number in the U.S., but that the Mainline Protestant denominations are losing members, and have been for quite some time.

I have a few questions about this.

1 – Is this the case? How extensive is the decline in numbers?

2 – What are the causes of this?

3 – What is the reaction of the denominational leaders?

4 – Is there a sense that the decline is irreversible?

I’m not starting this thread to get into Protestant bashing. I’m totally Catholic, but I’m always interested in the crosscurrents of Christrianity, and I’d like to know more about what is happening in the Protestant world.

Can anyone elucidate any of these issues for me?

I can only speak for Northern Alabama.
Yes, the Mainliners are in serious decline here and example is the local United Methodist Church which is now down to about 18 people at sunday morning service meanwhile the Church of God, Southern Baptists and Congregational Methodists grow larger everyday. I spoke with a United Methodist minister in a larger town and he said the Bishop had basically given up on our area and was just waiting for the members to die off so they can close the churches.
I don’t know the reasons but the fastest growing churches are Pentecostal and Non-Denominational.
WP

 

[whowantsumadebo]

Yes definately. This has perplexed me for some time. Before I moved, I was attending a Lutheran Church and I was the only young person there! Now, all the young people at my Christian fellowship, it’s all young people who belong to “non-denominational” churches; they say they want “Jesus without the religion,” or something to that effect. People either want to be that, or Catholic. The Catholic Church and the new Evangelicals are the only ones really standing up for traditional Christian beliefs. The main Protestant Churches have become so liberalized, many people simply don’t go anymore.
Someone needs to write a book about this.

 

[Contarini]

Yes definately. This has perplexed me for some time. Before I moved, I was attending a Lutheran Church and I was the only young person there! Now, all the young people at my Christian fellowship, it’s all young people who belong to “non-denominational” churches; they say they want “Jesus without the religion,” or something to that effect. People either want to be that, or Catholic. The Catholic Church and the new Evangelicals are the only ones really standing up for traditional Christian beliefs. The main Protestant Churches have become so liberalized, many people simply don’t go anymore.
Someone needs to write a book about this.

Believe me, lots of people have!

Some relevant literature:

Dean Kelley, Why Conservative Churches are Growing (1972)
A number of works by Rodney Stark, including *The Churching of America, 1776-1990 *(1992)
Benton Johnson et al, “The Real Reason for Decline” (1993)
And last year an article in *Christian Century *by three eminent sociologists (including the Catholic priest Andrew Greeley), which you can read about here.

This is just the tip of the iceberg–there are lots of books and articles out there on the subject.

Edwin
%between%

 

[christianley]

I’ve read and heard that Evangelicals, Mormons and Catholics are actually growing in number in the U.S., but that the Mainline Protestant denominations are losing members, and have been for quite some time.

I have a few questions about this.

1 – Is this the case? How extensive is the decline in numbers?

2 – What are the causes of this?

3 – What is the reaction of the denominational leaders?

4 – Is there a sense that the decline is irreversible?

I’m not starting this thread to get into Protestant bashing. I’m totally Catholic, but I’m always interested in the crosscurrents of Christrianity, and I’d like to know more about what is happening in the Protestant world.

Can anyone elucidate any of these issues for me?

The LDS Church is only growing on paper. Just about as many people leave it as come into it. A couple of weeks is enough to show most reasonable people that it’s a waste of time.

 

[Peter_DiMitri]

The LDS Church is only growing on paper. Just about as many people leave it as come into it. A couple of weeks is enough to show most reasonable people that it’s a waste of time.

How does a Church grow only on paper?

 

[Peter_DiMitri]

Believe me, lots of people have!

Some relevant literature:

Dean Kelley, Why Conservative Churches are Growing (1972)
A number of works by Rodney Stark, including *The Churching of America, 1776-1990 *(1992)
Benton Johnson et al, “The Real Reason for Decline” (1993)
And last year an article in *Christian Century *by three eminent sociologists (including the Catholic priest Andrew Greeley), which you can read about here.

This is just the tip of the iceberg–there are lots of books and articles out there on the subject.

Edwin
%between%

Thanks for the links. I found them interesting, but I’m not sure I understand the conclusion of the last study. They are saying that it all comes down to birth control and not liberalism… but with all due respect the liberalism is precisely what leads to the birth control in my view. So, I don’t completely understand the reasoning.

 

[allischalmers]

In the last thirty or so Baptist have grown form 31 million to over sixty five million in mostly in Asia and South America.

forever Baptist
allischalmers

 

[Peter_DiMitri]

I just did some background checking into Father Greeley. Looks like he’s one of the liberal Church discontinuants. I had the sense that the study might be suspect – after all, why would liberals want to recognize their liberalism as a reason for decline?

I’m curious if there are more objective studies out there.

 

[Will_Pick]

I’ve read and heard that Evangelicals, Mormons and Catholics are actually growing in number in the U.S., but that the Mainline Protestant denominations are losing members, and have been for quite some time.

I have a few questions about this.

1 – Is this the case? How extensive is the decline in numbers?

2 – What are the causes of this?

3 – What is the reaction of the denominational leaders?

4 – Is there a sense that the decline is irreversible?

I’m not starting this thread to get into Protestant bashing. I’m totally Catholic, but I’m always interested in the crosscurrents of Christrianity, and I’d like to know more about what is happening in the Protestant world.

Can anyone elucidate any of these issues for me?

I can"t answer all your questions but the Baptist are in a decline because a lot of them are going to what they now call non-denominational churches

 

[Abira]

It might help to look at the question as the ‘reconfiguration’ of the worldwide Christian community rather than the decline and growth of seperate denominations.

instead of this church is growing, this one is in decline, I see the movement of people as a repositioning of Christianity, as though it is in search of a new role in the modern world; hence the repositioning and movement of people to different labels and socal positions to make it fit in with modernity.

I’m not saying this is in any way an answer but I think you’ll only answer your question looking at it from this angle, viewing all churches as one fluid and changeable movement of views.

Take care.

Sarah x

 

[Peter_DiMitri]

It might help to look at the question as the ‘reconfiguration’ of the worldwide Christian community rather than the decline and growth of seperate denominations.

instead of this church is growing, this one is in decline, I see the movement of people as a repositioning of Christianity, as though it is in search of a new role in the modern world; hence the repositioning and movement of people to different labels and socal positions to make it fit in with modernity.

I’m not saying this is in any way an answer but I think you’ll only answer your question looking at it from this angle, viewing all churches as one fluid and changeable movement of views.

Take care.

Sarah x

Well, with all due respect to you, I was phrasing the question I was looking for the answer to…

 

[christianley]

How does a Church grow only on paper?

They baptize people under pressure, count them as members, they leave, and the church continues to count them as members even though they never darken the doors of the church again. Mormons have a huge file of members they can’t find, but they continue counting the members that are lost until they are 110 years old. They no doubt carry a bunch of dead people on their lists.

 

[Saint_Michael]

How does a Church grow only on paper?

The LDS keep very detailed records so they know to the number Chruch growth, however plenty leave and still remain in the system as LDS even though they don’t attend, left altogether and joined another denomination, and no longer associate themselves with the Church, some even remain on the records after requesting their names be removed from the records. The LDS Church is ~ 12 million worldwide, but practicing Mormons are far lower, and Temple Mormons probably somewhere ~ only 3 million maybe less.

 

[Peter_DiMitri]

They baptize people under pressure, count them as members, they leave, and the church continues to count them as members even though they never darken the doors of the church again. Mormons have a huge file of members they can’t find, but they continue counting the members that are lost until they are 110 years old. They no doubt carry a bunch of dead people on their lists.

You are saying that this is what the Mormons are doing? Can I ask you how you know this?

And to what end are they doing this?

 

[Malcolm_McLean]

How does a Church grow only on paper?

You declare as a member anyone who has attended a service. You only remove them if they explicitly ask to be considered non-members.

Most extreme religious movements have a constant churning of membership - they proselytise quite aggressively and get people in, but after a year or so members get bored or disillusioned and drop out. Allegations of brainwashing are mostly myths.

Since most people will quietly tail off involvement rather than make a grand exit, you can create the illusion that your church is growing when it isn’t.

 

[Saint_Michael]

Yeah the non-denominational and health and wealth churches are the ones growing really fast for obvious reasons.

 

[christianley]

How does a Church grow only on paper?

You might want to look at these links:

truthseeker.tripod.com/

sltrib.com/lds/ci_2890645

 

[ALLFORHIM]

I think mainline protestant churches are dwindling because they are caving into the world philosophy. The gospel message is being watered down and people are really not being fed the truth anymore.

I started out episcopalian(born and raised) went to baptist and then went to a non-denom. The baptist church and my non-denom teach they same doctrine. I just needed a church where I could grow in Christ more. My church just had more to offer me and my kids(acticities–bible studies, youth group etc.)

IMHO people are starting to realize they want more out of their churches. We have had so many new people come in I cant even count. I think our church initially attracts people because of the large array of activities. We do not teach a watered down gospel message either. The truth is hard but tough:thumbsup: My church is keeping people because we are preaching the truth and people know they need this in such a corrupt , immoral world.

Just my:twocents:

 

[mrs_abbott]

I think mainline protestant churches are dwindling because they are caving into the world philosophy.

That’s funny because I’ve been told that attendance at Catholic Churches have been dwindling because they will NOT cave into the world philosophy on what’s acceptable and not acceptable. It looks like there’s no way to generalize anything anymore. It looks like a case by case basis, depending on the area and whether it’s predominately Protestant, non-denom or Catholic.