RE: Liberal Christianity is paying for its sins
Out-of-the-mainstream beliefs about gay marriage and supposedly sexist doctrines are gutting old-line faiths.
Out of the mainstream? Not really.
The accelerating fragmentation of the strife-torn Episcopal Church USA, in which several parishes and even a few dioceses are opting out of the church, isn't simply about gay bishops, the blessing of same-sex unions or the election of a woman as presiding bishop. It also is about the meltdown of liberal Christianity.
'Meltdown'? That's a bit dramatic. It's more like the Episcopal Church USA's target demographic has 'evolved,' much like the target demographic of many other Christian churches. People change. Churches change.
Historically, Episcopals have always had a more liberal view of Christianity, right? I don't see anything all that surprising or alarming about their church’s current state.
...churches that have blurred doctrine and softened moral precepts are demographically declining...
It's funny how everyone to the 'right' of a certain church they don't belong to finds such churches to 'blur doctrine' and 'soften moral precepts.' Some might say that megachurches, new worship styles (for example: rock and rap from the pulpit), and the secular-influenced marketing strategies of an increasing amount of Christian churches blur and soften Christianity. But still, many, many churches best described as southern Baptist are doing extremely well.
Following the Episcopalian lead, the Presbyterians also voted to give local congregations the freedom to ordain openly cohabiting gay and lesbian ministers and endorsed the legalization of medical marijuana. (The latter may be a good idea, but it is hard to see how it falls under the theological purview of a Christian denomination.)
'...hard to see'? Well, not really. If some Baptists regularly preach the evils of alcohol, then why can't another denomination take sides on a similarly demonized — but far less harmful (and, in some cases, helpful) — product of consumption?
Despite the fact that median Sunday attendance at Episcopal churches is 80 worshipers, the Episcopal Church, as a whole, is financially equipped to carry on for some time, thanks to its inventory of vintage real estate and huge endowments left over from the days (no more!) when it was the Republican Party at prayer... Still, it must be galling to Episcopal liberals that many of the parishes and dioceses (including that of San Joaquin, Calif.) that want to pull out of the Episcopal Church USA are growing instead of shrinking, have live people in the pews who pay for the upkeep of their churches and don't have to rely on dead rich people.
Really? Dead, rich Republicans? That's interesting.
Out of the mainstream? Not really.
The accelerating fragmentation of the strife-torn Episcopal Church USA, in which several parishes and even a few dioceses are opting out of the church, isn't simply about gay bishops, the blessing of same-sex unions or the election of a woman as presiding bishop. It also is about the meltdown of liberal Christianity.
'Meltdown'? That's a bit dramatic. It's more like the Episcopal Church USA's target demographic has 'evolved,' much like the target demographic of many other Christian churches. People change. Churches change.
Historically, Episcopals have always had a more liberal view of Christianity, right? I don't see anything all that surprising or alarming about their church’s current state.
...churches that have blurred doctrine and softened moral precepts are demographically declining...
It's funny how everyone to the 'right' of a certain church they don't belong to finds such churches to 'blur doctrine' and 'soften moral precepts.' Some might say that megachurches, new worship styles (for example: rock and rap from the pulpit), and the secular-influenced marketing strategies of an increasing amount of Christian churches blur and soften Christianity. But still, many, many churches best described as southern Baptist are doing extremely well.
Following the Episcopalian lead, the Presbyterians also voted to give local congregations the freedom to ordain openly cohabiting gay and lesbian ministers and endorsed the legalization of medical marijuana. (The latter may be a good idea, but it is hard to see how it falls under the theological purview of a Christian denomination.)
'...hard to see'? Well, not really. If some Baptists regularly preach the evils of alcohol, then why can't another denomination take sides on a similarly demonized — but far less harmful (and, in some cases, helpful) — product of consumption?
Despite the fact that median Sunday attendance at Episcopal churches is 80 worshipers, the Episcopal Church, as a whole, is financially equipped to carry on for some time, thanks to its inventory of vintage real estate and huge endowments left over from the days (no more!) when it was the Republican Party at prayer... Still, it must be galling to Episcopal liberals that many of the parishes and dioceses (including that of San Joaquin, Calif.) that want to pull out of the Episcopal Church USA are growing instead of shrinking, have live people in the pews who pay for the upkeep of their churches and don't have to rely on dead rich people.
Really? Dead, rich Republicans? That's interesting.
posted by Strother | 11:48 AM
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