Why Denomination Matters to Church Growth

A recent study suggests orthodoxy doesn’t draw church crowds on its own.

Why Denomination Matters to Church Growth

Download a PDF of this article here

Copyright © 2012 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

Christianity Today previously spotlighted pastors’ fight and flight, muscular Christianity, the evangelistic question that died, religious attitudes and economic inequality, the lasting effects of your school, a poll of evangelical leaders, YouVersion, Osama bin Laden’s death, Reformed hip-hop, church value, Christian names, how evangelicals give, evangelical vs. mainline politics, today’s pilgrims, President Obama’s faith, the future(s) of missions, health-care reform, Africa, and American Idol.

CT also covers news and political updates.

This article appeared in the June, 2012 issue of Christianity Today as "Mainline Conservatives' Dilemma".

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

June

Christianity Today June, 2012

Cover Story

When Are We Going to Grow Up? The Juvenilization of American Christianity

Thomas E. Bergler

Cover Story

By Grace You Are Mature

David Zahl

Childlike Faith: Are Kids Born with Belief?

Interview by Holly Catterton Allen

The Resurrection: A Bridge Between Two Worlds

Alister McGrath

Review

Holy Ground: Why This Land Is God's Land

Jake Meador

Review

Grace Amid Genocide

Tim Stafford

My Top 5 Books On Patriotism

David Gushee, director of the Center for Theology and Public Life at Mercer University

News

Nonprofits, the Bible, and Jesus

Compiled by Ted Olsen

In on the Joke of the Bible

Timothy George on the Reformers' Postmodern Moment

Interview by David Neff

Editorial

Why Catholics and Evangelicals Can Be United Against Nihilism

A Christianity Today Editorial

The Art of Loving Your Neighbor

Matt Branaugh

News

Pro-Life Democrats Dwindle in Congress

Tobin Grant

Should Churches Abandon Travel-Intensive Short-Term Missions in Favor of Local Projects?

Brian M. Howell, David Livermore, and Robert J. Priest

News

Should Denominations Be Organized Geographically?

Compiled by Ruth Moon

Excerpt

Learning from My Father: Lessons on Life and Faith

David Lawther Johnson

When Dad Is in Prison

G. Jeffrey MacDonald in New Orleans

Ponce de León on Steroids

The Social Network Gospel

Robert C. Crosby

Apps to the Future: The New Social Network Engagers

Robert C. Crosby

The Rise of Digital Urban Tribes

News

Book Buyer Beware? It's Christian Fiction.

Ken Walker

Charles Colson & Timothy George: Churchless Jesus

Chuck Colson & Timothy George

News

Fury Over Mission School Fees

Sunday Oguntola in Lagos

Review

Kin: Songs by Mary Karr & Rodney Crowell

Josh Hurst

News

Liberia: Getting Back to the Founding Faith

George Stewart in Monrovia

Review

For Greater Glory

Steven D. Greydanus

News

The Fight for Egypt's Future

Jeremy Weber in Cairo

Letters to the Editor

Evangelicalism's Youthful Romance

News

Passages

Tobin Grant

Review

The Trinity and the Cross, and Why It Matters

Jeff Haanen

Review

God on the Streets of Gotham

Steven Greydanus

Review

Debating Same-Sex Marriage

Matt Reynolds

Wilson's Bookmarks

John Wilson

News

Quotation Marks

Compiled by Ted Olsen

News

Christians Face Forced Exodus, Missionary Wins 'Rare' Settlement, Churches Want Fewer Cash Offerings, and More

Remembering Charles Colson, a Man Transformed

Jonathan Aitken

Our Latest

A photo of people praying at a peaceful Civil Rights protest.

Public Theology Project

How to Know If You’re Growing in Patience—or Just Giving Up

The right kind of waiting can save us. The wrong kind will destroy us.

Lance Kagey (L) and Tom Llewellyn (R) standing in front of a wall displaying their hand-printed posters.

Guerilla Art For Grit City

J.D. Peabody

Two friends are taking Tacoma by storm with paper and ink.

Chuck Klosterman Football

The Russell Moore Show

Chuck Klosterman on Football

Cultural critic and essayist Chuck Klosterman about his new book and what the sport tells us about ourselves.

The Simón Bolívar International Bridge on the Colombia-Venezuela border.

News

Christians Provide Food, Medicine, and Spiritual Hope at Venezuela’s Border

Hernán Restrepo in Cúcuta, Colombia

After Maduro’s ouster, ministries in Cúcuta, Colombia, don’t know if Venezuelan migrants will return home or if more will flee.

Screenshots from videos of the protest in Saint Paul.

Protesting in Church Is Wrong. So Is Immigration Theater.

Bonnie Kristian

Demonstrators should not disrupt worship services. ICE should be competent, cool-headed, and constrained by the Constitution.

The book cover.

Review

What to Do About Reparations

Haleluya Hadero

A new book values justice for Black Americans, but its secular thesis only goes so far.

Soldier walking past a cross draped with a Ukrainian flag.

The Bulletin

Congressional War Powers, ICE Tactics, and Ukraine Update

Mike Cosper, Clarissa Moll

War powers resolution dies in Senate, immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, and Anne Applebaum on the war in Ukraine.

A man praying in church.

The Gospel Is Good News Before It’s Good Advice

Peter Coelho

Yes, Christianity can improve your life, build social cohesion, and foster respect for reality. But more importantly, Jesus is our Savior.