News

News Briefs: October 03, 1994

It does not take an expert seismologist to detect rumblings in America’s denominations. In the past three decades, leading denominations have experienced membership losses of 20 percent or more. Many also face huge financial shortfalls.

Yet it does take an expert to help determine what denominations can do to stabilize. At least, that was the thinking at an August conference with Peter Drucker, one of the world’s foremost authorities on organizational change, and Lyle Schaller, an expert on congregational culture.

“The Future of Denominations” conference brought together 75 leaders of denominations, seminaries, parachurch organizations, and publishing houses to consider what is happening to denominations today and how they can be strengthened.

“I am an optimist; I am a denominationalist,” Schaller commented. Yet Schaller pointed to the gravity of the situation:

* There are 12 to 15 denominations, including many major ones, that could easily divide in the coming century.

* Most services traditionally provided by denominations—publishing, training of clergy, church planting, missions—are now provided by parachurch organizations and by independent churches. Denominations still control the credentialing process for clergy, but increasingly, many people question whether that system guarantees clerical competence or reduces the instances of clerical malfeasance.

* Many of the best examples of innovation and leadership in American church life are coming from independent churches.

In the peak years of denominational life in the United States—the 1950s-denominations had a monopoly as loyalties were inherited and powerful. Today, “fewer people remain in the denominations in which they were raised, [and] fewer people think their own denomination has a better grasp on the truth than other denominations,” writes Princeton scholar Robert Wuthnow.

Conference conversations often turned to megachurches, because their rise has come at the same time as the decline of denominations. In many ways, large churches have become new “denominations,” such as the Willow Creek Association or Calvary Chapels. For that and other reasons, large churches are often held in suspicion, even within their denominations.

Drucker told conference attenders the development of “the large pastoral church” may be the most significant event in American society in the past 20 years.

“Is there a future for denominations?” Schaller asked. “That depends largely on denominations.” He recommended several actions for denominations and their congregations:

* Address spiritual needs. The second half of the baby boom (those born between 1955 and 1964) are returning to church and are looking for help with their spiritual pilgrimage.

* Expect a lot from churchgoers. Typically, churches that expect a lot find that people rise to those expectations. Drucker urged congregations to “use laity as a resource.”

* Do not apologize for a distinctive belief system.

* Offer choices, including the time and style of worship services. As Drucker put it, “Any enterprise begins to die when it’s run for the benefit of the insiders rather than for the benefit of the outsiders.”

* Expect that the lives of people will be transformed. Christianity is, in Schaller’s words, “a transformational religion.” “Denominationalism is perhaps the most central phenomenon of religion in the United States,” scholar Julia Mitchell Corbett notes.

But as this conference points out, for America’s denominations to turn around, they need to shift, in Drucker’s words, “from churches serving denominations to denominations serving churches.”

Drucker ended the conference with a startlingly upbeat note: “We have been looking at the Protestant church as an institution in trouble, needing a turnaround. That may be true, but fundamentally, the turnaround has happened, and now it is our job to run with the success. Maybe I’m a little premature, but whenever we go to work, the walls of Jericho will fall very fast.”

Copyright © 1994 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

Are People the Problem? Some experts predict apocalyptic scenarios. Others disagree. Deciding who is right has as much to do with faith as with facts.

Cover Story

Are People The Problem?, Part 1—The Bet (b)

Cover Story

Are People The Problem?, Part 1—The Bet

Cover Story

Are People The Problem?, Part 3—Thus Saith the Lord

Cover Story

Are People The Problem?, Part 2—India, A Success Story

Put You Money Where Your Voice Is

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from October 03, 1994

Religious Right Eager for November Election

Political Tensions Between Christians, Jews

Leading Democrat Faces Strong Challenge

Will Palestinian Christians Survive?

Mormon History Under Scrutiny

Plane Found 32 Years Later

SIDEBAR: Why Christians Should Support Population Programs

Program Links Policy Experts

Episcopal Bishops Divided Over Sexuality

WORLD SCENE: Christians Linked to Killings

Government Restricts Missionaries

Denominations Urged to Turn Focus 'Outward'

YFC Celebrates Golden Year

CHARLES COLSON: Casey Strikes Out

PLUS: Documenting a Spiritual Journey

ARTICLE: What Henri Nouwen Found at Daybreak

News

NORTH AMERICAN SCENE: Station Replaces Falwell’s ’Politics’

CONVERSATIONS: Why John Grisham Teaches Sunday School

BOOKS: The Mind of Christ

Electric Fellowship

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editorial

EDITORIAL: Uncle Sam Wants Your Tithes

Editorial

EDITORIAL: Abusing Human Rights

ARTICLE: Wise Christians Clip Obituaries

News

News Briefs: October 03, 1994

BOOKS: Probing the Passion

BOOKS: Great Scots

BOOKS: Religion and Religions

BOOKS: Nun the Wiser

BOOKS: The Mind of Christ

SIDEBAR: Worth Mentioning: News, notices, and curiosities

View issue

Our Latest

Wicked or Misunderstood?

A conversation with Beth Moore about UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect Luigi Mangione and the nature of sin.

Review

The Virgin Birth Is More Than an Incredible Occurrence

We’re eager to ask whether it could have happened. We shouldn’t forget to ask what it means.

The Nine Days of Filipino Christmas

Some Protestants observe the Catholic tradition of Simbang Gabi, predawn services in the days leading up to Christmas.

Why Armenian Christians Recall Noah’s Ark in December

The biblical account of the Flood resonates with a persecuted church born near Mount Ararat.

The Bulletin

Neighborhood Threat

The Bulletin talks about Christians in Syria, Bible education, and the “bad guys” of NYC.

Join CT for a Live Book Awards Event

A conversation with Russell Moore, Book of the Year winner Gavin Ortlund, and Award of Merit winner Brad East.

Excerpt

There’s No Such Thing as a ‘Proper’ Christmas Carol

As we learn from the surprising journeys of several holiday classics, the term defies easy definition.

Advent Calls Us Out of Our Despair

Sitting in the dark helps us truly appreciate the light.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube