Due to dwindling membership, the mainline Presbyterian church I attended had to close its doors. As the closing date approached, the church seemed to search for every reason for declining membership except the leftward drift in the denomination. After the church closed, the Presbyterians sold the building to a group of Methodists who had recently left the United Methodist Church. The recently established Methodist church has two services to accommodate the crowd.
The picture is certainly a complicated one. People leave churches for many reasons. But statistically speaking, churches that are closer to the historic orthodox position on major issues have fared better in this era of declining membership. People in conservative churches tend to have more babies, for one thing, but they also seem to attract more adult seekers.
This was such a refreshing read. Thank you! Oh that irony in the “growing” church. I am not surprised that moving away from orthodoxy doesn’t increase attendance, but it is comforting to have it confirmed.
Thank you for communicating the false choice so clearly! I feel dismayed watching many I know (especially younger Christians) leave the church or at least move away from historical doctrines due to the realities you describe. But I think highlighting that the dichotomy is false is an important first step and also looking at the ultimately fruitless end of this trajectory as you describe. Secondly, I think we (as women especially) may need tools for how to approach and endure the awkward middle space.
Well said! Since I wrote this article a couple years ago, I have connected with more people in this situation and found some organizations that are doing a better job of solving the conundrum. But it’s tough.
It is so true that Christians should not have to choose between correct doctrine and personal dignity. I also think that churches who don't teach true Biblical doctrine are failing. We need healthy men in the church who are not threatened by healthy women and who truly understand the value and multiple roles of each of the genders.
Thank you! There are a number of women writing very well about gender and Christianity -- including Erika Bachiochi, Abigail Favale, and Leah Libresco Sargeant, all of whom contribute to Fairer Disputations among other venues -- and I hope that you may find a supportive environment to explore these questions, without getting too discouraged by the haters.
Thanks so much! I originally wrote this article a couple years ago, and since then have connected with some people who do a better job of solving the conundrum. There is still a lot of work to be done.
This was a beautiful piece, Amy. Thank you for sharing your heart through the written word.
Thanks, brother! Your friendship and encouragement is a great blessing.
Due to dwindling membership, the mainline Presbyterian church I attended had to close its doors. As the closing date approached, the church seemed to search for every reason for declining membership except the leftward drift in the denomination. After the church closed, the Presbyterians sold the building to a group of Methodists who had recently left the United Methodist Church. The recently established Methodist church has two services to accommodate the crowd.
The picture is certainly a complicated one. People leave churches for many reasons. But statistically speaking, churches that are closer to the historic orthodox position on major issues have fared better in this era of declining membership. People in conservative churches tend to have more babies, for one thing, but they also seem to attract more adult seekers.
This was such a refreshing read. Thank you! Oh that irony in the “growing” church. I am not surprised that moving away from orthodoxy doesn’t increase attendance, but it is comforting to have it confirmed.
Thank you for communicating the false choice so clearly! I feel dismayed watching many I know (especially younger Christians) leave the church or at least move away from historical doctrines due to the realities you describe. But I think highlighting that the dichotomy is false is an important first step and also looking at the ultimately fruitless end of this trajectory as you describe. Secondly, I think we (as women especially) may need tools for how to approach and endure the awkward middle space.
Well said! Since I wrote this article a couple years ago, I have connected with more people in this situation and found some organizations that are doing a better job of solving the conundrum. But it’s tough.
It is so true that Christians should not have to choose between correct doctrine and personal dignity. I also think that churches who don't teach true Biblical doctrine are failing. We need healthy men in the church who are not threatened by healthy women and who truly understand the value and multiple roles of each of the genders.
Yes! Behavior issues reveal that, on some level, there is a doctrinal issue. Do we really believe what we preach? I hope so.
Thank you! There are a number of women writing very well about gender and Christianity -- including Erika Bachiochi, Abigail Favale, and Leah Libresco Sargeant, all of whom contribute to Fairer Disputations among other venues -- and I hope that you may find a supportive environment to explore these questions, without getting too discouraged by the haters.
https://fairerdisputations.org/featured-authors/
https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/authors/abigail-favale/
https://www.firstthings.com/author/erika-bachiochi
Thanks so much! I originally wrote this article a couple years ago, and since then have connected with some people who do a better job of solving the conundrum. There is still a lot of work to be done.