Q: You left evangelicalism for the Episcopal Church. Much of the Episcopal Church has failed to embrace the cosmetic changes you critique, and they practice the things you say will draw millennials back. Yet Episcopalians in America have been in steady decline and are rapidly aging. How do you reconcile this with your thesis?<\/p>\n
A: Just about every denomination in the American church \u201d\u201d including many evangelical denominations \u201d\u201d is seeing a decline in numbers, so if it\u2019s a competition, then we\u2019re all losing, just at different rates. I felt drawn to the Episcopal Church because it offered some practices I felt were missing in my evangelical experience, like space for silence and reflection, a focus on Christ\u2019s presence at the Communion table as the climax and center of every worship service, opportunities for women in leadership and the inclusion of LGBT people.<\/p>\n
But I know plenty of folks who were raised as Episcopalians who have become evangelical, drawn by the exciting and energetic worship or the emphasis on personal testimony and connection to Scripture. It\u2019s common in young adulthood, I think, to seek out faith traditions that complement the one in which you were raised. It\u2019s not about rejecting your background, just about finding your own way. I don\u2019t want to project my experience onto all millennials.<\/p>\n
Q: Many evangelicals criticize the liberal theology of the Episcopal Church, even claiming that it is now outside of orthodox Christianity. What say you?<\/p>\n