While membership in mainline Protestant churches has been on the decline for decades, church leaders are sounding the alarm more loudly after a recent study offered a grim picture of the churches' future.
"There is no future for The United Methodist Church in the United States unless we can reach more people, younger people and more diverse people," said the Rev. Lovett Weems, a researcher and professor of church leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, according to the United Methodist News Service.
Weems made his comment after viewing findings from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, which released last week. The study showed nearly half of American adults said they left the faith tradition of their upbringing and either switched religious affiliations or left the faith tradition altogether. Of the 53 percent who left the Methodist Church of their childhood, 19 percent went to evangelical churches, 11 percent to other mainline Protestant churches 3 percent to historically black churches, and 8 percent to a non-Protestant religion. Moreover, 12 percent say they no longer are part of any faith group.
Although the Pew study confirms previous data collected about The United Methodist Church and religion in the United States, many say the study provides a comprehensive and more detailed picture of the latest trends in the U.S. religious landscape.
Of the 78 percent in the country who are Christian, according to the Pew survey, 18.1 percent belong to mainline Protestant churches – which are predominantly white and elderly – and of that, 5.1 percent are United Methodist.
"For whatever reason, a sizable population raised in the Methodist tradition is no longer Methodist. Maybe we haven't done a good job of showing what is unique and special and important about being a United Methodist," said Scott Brewer, director of research for the United Methodist General Council on Finance and Administration, which collects statistics for the denomination, according to UMNS.
United Methodists in the United States have been decreasing steadily in number for at least four decades and the denomination is currently at around 8 million members.
But the loss of members hasn't come without outreach efforts.
"It's not that we're not making the efforts or spending the money to reach younger and more diverse people, but we're not focusing our efforts on outcomes," said Weems.
The United Methodist Church, which is still the third largest church body in the country, has spent millions of dollars on its "open hearts, open minds, open doors" media campaign.
Television, radio and cinema spots, billboard ads, and now internet ads have been running for nearly eight years to communicate the key characteristics of the denomination to the American public. A survey found that the campaign is helping reframe people's perceptions about the church into something more positive, according to the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications.
Also, 54 percent of those surveyed expressed a willingness to visit a United Methodist church, up from 47 percent in 2006.
Still, America has become a "vibrant marketplace where individuals pick and choose religions that meet their needs," according to the Pew survey. And denominations are no longer a major factor for people when selecting a church.
"A lot of people say denominations and traditions don't matter any more, but I don't think that's the case," said Weems, as reported by UMNS. "I think it's just no longer the deciding point and often not the beginning point when people select a church."
Acknowledging the changes in Americans' affiliations and attitudes toward religion, the Rev. Jerry D. Campbell, president of United Methodist-related Claremont School of Theology in California, says churches have got to get comfortable with change. And he hopes the Methodist tradition continues to be a part of the religious landscape in America.
"God apparently doesn't like static environments," he said, according to UMNS. "I think we have to realize that the fate of God's future for humanity is not limited to the success of the institutional church. Even if the church dies, God doesn't die."
Comments
paulbrown is right that it's unconvincing. Duke is one of the most egregious offenders. It's denial of the Bible as the Word of God that's divisive.
Here is a quote from my Old Testament professor at Duke Divinity School regarding Scripture journals we wrote that reflects to some small degree the school's commitment to the Bible as the Word of God; however, it is unlikely that any explanation will be sufficient for those who wish to attack and divide the church.
"Previous generations of seminary graduates will likely remember their Old Testament coursework as more historical-critical in orientation, perhaps even narrowly focused on the reconstructed sources “JEDP.” This scripture journal assignment grew out of a substantially altered pedagogical model, in which the goal is to interpret the Old Testament in its canonical form as Christian scripture. " http://www.divinity.duke.edu/news/spotlight/20080226oldtestament
From the doctrinal standards of the United Methodist Church:
Article IV of the Confession of Faith
We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.
Article V of the Articles of Religion
The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the church.
I used to be a United Methodist, too, and I know of no United Methodist seminary that understands the Bible as the Word of God.
paulbrown,
What seminary is that?
doc411, your comments are not only hateful and inflammatory, they are also not based in fact. I attend a UM seminary, and the professors there certainly advocate Christian orthodoxy - including the Bible as the Word of God. Instead of spending your time attacking Methodists as ignorant and apostate, you could take time to pray for unity in the Church of Christ.
PaulBrown
"God will do the judging and is the only one who knows people's true love and intentions. "
You do not enter into God's Grace by deeds, Jesus Christ is the only way.You can feed a thousand people soup every day of the year and still spend eternity in hell.
"I don't know a single church where every single member agrees on 100% of what the Bible says -that is why we have people leave churches left and right"
Want to make me leave a church ? Start interpeting the Word of God by what you feel is right and taking Scripture out of context to support that which you feel and I am gone.
Women were not created to be Preacher's, Gay is a sin, andyou can not fall out of God's Grace. It is people that beleive what they feel is right unstead of what the Bible says that has caused the many denominations. Here is one prime example....read this article right here on this site. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080304/31414_Obama_Uses_Jesus%5C%27_Sermon_to_Bolster_Gay_Civil_Unions.htm
First, there is "a little bit of trash" in every church. Anyone who wants to turn up their nose and pretend like their church is full of perfect people is a liar. Everyone sins, everyone is in need of grace - and that is what the church is, a place for ALL kinds of sinners to join together in a loving, forgiving community that seeks to build each other up in holiness and good works as followers of Jesus.
Second, in reference to your quotation of "depart from me," you need to take a look at Mark 9:38-41, where Jesus says "whoever is not against us is for us." The point is, it is not any of our jobs to judge one another - since, again, we are ALL sinners - in fact, God will do the judging and is the only one who knows people's true love and intentions. Also take a look at Matt 13:24-29 where Jesus affirms that it is God alone who will separate the faithful from the wicked at the final judgment.
Finally, in reference to your comments about the United Methodist Church, it must be said that the church continues to maintain Christian orthodoxy, including affirmation of Scripture as the Word of God, and of the historic ecumenical Creeds. For more on official Methodist doctrine, please go to http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1648. Your "advice" to turn and run from the body of Christ where God has placed millions of souls and where God's Holy Spirit continues to work only has served to splinter the Church into 40,000 denominations.
I don't know a single church where every single member agrees on 100% of what the Bible says - that is why we have people leave churches left and right - we all think we are right! Instead, God calls us to a spirit of humility and grace, to seek His guidance in our interpretation of Scripture, and to "show tolerance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; for there is one body and one Spirit...one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all" (Eph 4:2-6).
Rather than attacking brothers and sisters in the Methodist Church, ask God for a spirit of unity, love, and patience - and pray for us all to receive wisdom as we seek to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
It is not pharisiacal for someone to say that debate on things which the Bible is clear on is a waste of time. Jesus said after Christians were doing the works (healing the sick, raising the dead, etc.) depart from me I never knew you. I think Jesus knows what he is talking about.
We are to preach the transforming power of Christ. We that have accepted Christ are no longer sinners. We are new creatures in Christ. When any minister quits preaching that they will run into what the UMC and others denominations are running into. If the UMC does not decide once and for all that they will stand for righteousness and quit debating sin issues that the Bible clearly states are wrong, it will fall like the PCUSA, the Episcopal Church and Carlton Pearson's church here in Tulsa. I have already had this discussion with a very good friend of mine in the UMC. His parents are high up the chain in the denomination. He told me that he knew that he needed to leave BUT basically said that he would be giving up his entire way of life. That is what every Christian should be ready to do. It is a hard place BUT when you know they are about to slide into a bad place it's time to get out of the neighborhood. At this point my friend has chosen the UMC instead of the word of God.
To Professor X:
My mother always used to say "a little bit of trash in the dumpster makes the whole can stink"...
Jesus asked Simon Peter three times....Do You Love Me more than these?
After Simon Peter answered, Jesus then said...
...Feed My Sheep...Feed My Lambs....Feed My Sheep...
We must care for our own first.
<<<I agree, the entire body needs to be praying for one another. And the Bible is clear that man is not to live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God.
The church needs to desire to feed the Word of God more than feeding bread. >>>
Matthew 25:35-40
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
The scripture is very clear... WE(the followers of Christ, the children of the Most High G-d)are the hands and feet of G-D, prayer does no good if we refuse to act on meeting the needs of the poor, hungry, thirsty, widowed, orphaned, naked and in prison. Everything we say in prayer or about G-d is worthless if we do not act like his children and do unto others as we would have them do unto us!
PaulBrown:
What I see in this article is the need for the UMC to get its own house in order before it can continue in ministry to the rest of the world.
I agree, the entire body needs to be praying for one another. And the Bible is clear that man is not to live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God.
The church needs to desire to feed the Word of God more than feeding bread.
As a United Methodist, I take offense at the accusations of "apostasy" and "knee-jerk, touchy-feely social doctrine" that any "right-thinking" Christian should abandon. Not only is it disturbing to see fellow disciples of Christ reveling in the decline of one part of the universal church, but it reveals biblical ignorance on the part of many who are supposedly "Bible-believing."
While no church is perfect, many within the UMC stand for Christian orthodoxy - which is centered on the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Jesus Christ of the Bible saved his harshest words for the "religious" people of his day, preferring instead to spend his time with the marginalized of society. Open hearts means that Methodists seek to reflect this Christian principle by recognizing that we are all sinners in need of grace. Jesus also was concerned not only with spiritual but with physical needs (what does it profit to say "be filled" and send someone away hungry?) and so Methodists are often on the front lines with soup kitchens, clothing drives, care for immigrants, and humanitarian relief.
Open minds means that while we are rooted in our Wesleyan tradition, we are not afraid to ask difficult questions, encourage debate, and allow for differences of opinion. Any church that glories in being "closed-minded" risks legalism and the self-righteous piety of the Pharisees just as much as "open minds" risks relativism and compromise.
All that being said, I hope that instead of criticizing, you take the time to actually pray - not only for the Methodist church - but for the whole body of Christ to be strengthened and unified in its mission to reach the spiritual and physical needs of the world!
ProfessorX
Your words sound great!
I've read the exact same thing (word for word) from you on other blogs...with the same link at the end. Great job of copy and paste.
But here's the reality.
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. But He who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire;
I'm afraid the church is losing the meaning of that fire....the people need to be awakened again to what that fire is.
ProfessorX--
Amen! It's hard to see how the United Methodist Church doesn't see any correlation between their increasing liberalism and support of a socialist agenda, as well as supporting sinful relationships based upon sodomy, and their decreasing numbers.
What right thinking Christian who can read the plain Word of God as it is written, wants to be in communion with a denomination that is placing their truth ahead of God's truth? The UMC's "open doors and open minds" have let the evil one inside, and the number of declining members shows it. Their members aren't stupid. They can read. They know when the truth of God is exchanged for a lie.