This past year may be defined for some evangelicals by the bits of duct tape put over the word United on so many United Methodist Church signs. Or the 152 bullets fired at a Christian school in Nashville, killing six people. Or by the hymns that Tim Keller chose to have sung at his funeral.
There were moments of grace amid a lot of darkness. There was also a lot of darkness. There were tragedies, prayers, votes, big decisions, and little decisions made with great determination, contributing to the ongoing, unfolding shifts in evangelicalism.
As 2023 draws to a close, here are 10 stories that stood out to us as pivotal.
The Covenant School in Nashville was targeted in the most high-profile attack on a Christian school in US history, with a shooter killing three students and three staff during an attack in March. The tragedy led some Covenant families to call for stricter “red flag” laws to prevent gun violence.
8. Church of England’s Same-Sex Blessings
In a long-awaited and long-debated compromise, Anglicans approved on a trial basis special services to bless same-sex couples. Evangelicals feared the decision could split the Church of England, and conservatives from the Global South denounced the move.
Several major ministries and churches investigated abuse allegations, including against International House of Prayer founder Mike Bickle in Kansas City, Missouri, and Soul Survivor founder Mike Pilavachi in England. Others faced scrutiny over their response to abuse, including counselors at John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church; leaders at Chi Alpha and the Assemblies of God who knew about a sex offender’s ongoing ministry involvement; and Hillsong’s Brian Houston, who was found not guilty of covering up abuse by his father.
The year began with a celebration of the 20th anniversary of PEPFAR, a hugely successful program to fight HIV/AIDS that has saved 25 million lives and currently has 20 million people on treatment, often through faith-based partners on the ground. But the program was up for reauthorization this year, and US pro-life groups have successfully halted its renewal based on thus-far unsubstantiated concerns about the program funding abortions. African Christians working in health care are worried about what the implications will be for the millions they are treating.
When its chapel service stretched on for weeks and drew crowds with reports of “revival,” Asbury University in Kentucky prioritized the leadership of its students and the work of the Spirit over celebrity and spectacle. The outpouring at Asbury inspired revivals at other campuses and encouraged Christians worldwide.
1. United Methodist Church Disaffiliations
As a result of ongoing denominational divides on same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy, more than 7,600 congregations have left the United Methodist Church, with around 5,600 departing in 2023 alone. Some struggled to disaffiliate and keep their property, including Korean American churches and churches in states like Georgia, where they took legal action.
Check out the rest of our 2023 year-end lists here.
![크리스채너티 투데이에서 2023년 가장 많이 읽은 기사 20개 [한국어]](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/137995.jpg?h=123&w=220 "크리스채너티 투데이에서 2023년 가장 많이 읽은 기사 20개 [한국어]")
While we pray for peace, we need moral clarity about this war.
As my doubts about his teachings grew, so did a secret fascination with Jesus.
The government plans to close its porous border with Myanmar to boost security, separating ethnic groups that straddle the boundary.
