Here are titles of three recent books about evangelical Christianity:
“The Great Evangelical Recession: Six Factors that Will Crash the American Church ”¦ And How to Prepare.”
“The American Church in Crisis.”
“A Call to Resurgence: Will Christianity Have a Funeral or a Future?…”
None are anti-Christian screeds. All are written by evangelical pastors.
And they’re all part of an intense, active debate ”“ in books, magazines, conferences and anxious church offices ”“ about the future of evangelical Christianity….
I am not sure dying churches want to change. Some of my friends went to their rector and asked what could be done to reverse declining attendance. His reply was that it is happening in all churches. This, of course, is not true but he believes nothing can be done. My friends are looking for another church.
#2–If they are anywhere near Greenville, SC send them to St Paul’s PEARUSA! When I was involved in TEC on our Diocesan Trustees, one of the few things that would make me madder than you know what was a rector/vicar of a small parish saying he just couldn’t compete with the other churches because everybody who ought to be an Episcopalian either already was one or was already going to the Methodist or Presbyterian Church before he got to town. I actually had to be restrained by the Bishop on one occasion ove such a statement. I suspect your freinds’ rector is in that old, non-Matthew 28 mold; which is very sad.
Hi Pb, I think your friends are taking the right course. If the Lord has placed a burden for growing the church on their heart, then there is no point stifling that by staying at a congregation that doesn’t share the vision.