mainline Protestantism

Obama and Ross Douthat's "Christian center"

Apr 12, 2012 by Steve Thorngate

Skimming the NYT over the weekend, I read the following in Ross Douthat's summary of his new book:

Our president embodies [America's] uncentered spiritual landscape in three ways. First, like a growing share of Americans (44 percent), President Obama changed his religion as an adult, joining Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ in his 20s after a conversion experience brought him out of agnosticism into faith. Second, he was converted by a pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, whose highly politicized theology was self-consciously at odds with much of historic Christian practice and belief. Finally, since breaking with that pastor, Obama has become a believer without a denomination or a church, which makes him part of one of the country’s fastest-growing religious groups — what the Barna Group calls the “unchurched Christian” bloc, consisting of Americans who accept some tenets of Christian faith without participating in any specific religious community.

The third point annoyed me.

Features

Not ready for Larry King Live

An interview with Robert Wuthnow

Apr 04, 2001

"It seems to me the mainline churches are set up institutionally not to generate celebrity-status people, whereas evangelical churches, which are likely to be independent and have an entrepreneurial minister, almost breed celebrity status."

News

Oldline Prostestant churches feeling their age

FACT survey results

Oct 06, 2009 by John Dart

Amid their “slow but general retreat” this decade in terms of financial health and membership, the oldline Protestant churches are especially hampered by the aging of their memberships, a new study says.

News

How many in mainline? Categories vary in surveys

Defining the mainline

Jun 16, 2009 by John Dart

Americans who identify with mainline churches make up either 18 percent of the U.S. population or 13 percent, according to two large-scale surveys taken within recent years. Which is right?

Both are, say some researchers. The statistical variations typically depend on what questions are asked and how the mainline is defined.

Books

Public pews

Nov 18, 2008 reviewed by Charles Mathewes

For the past four decades the mainline Protestant churches have been working hard to shape public discourse and national policy through their Washington offices.

News

Mainline shows shift to Democrats

Most change among centrist mainliners

Jul 15, 2008 by John Dart

Although mainline Protestant denominations for decades have been closely linked to liberal causes—civil rights, women’s movements, abortion rights and antiwar protests—most of their members have been mainstays of the Republican Party.

M.E.M.O.

Brand loyalty

Mainline persistence

May 20, 2008 by Martin E. Marty

On the way to the airport for my TWA flight to St. Louis, I gassed up at the Standard station. When I got to the airport, my plane was delayed so I had time to drop in on Crown Books and then stopped at the Rexall concession to get some aspirin. Having an hour to kill in the club before takeoff, I put on my earphones and listened to the tape I had purchased the day before at Rose Records.

Editor's Desk

All in the family

One bread, one body

May 06, 2008 by John M. Buchanan

On the third Sunday of Easter I was in La Jolla, California, for the baptism of a granddaughter. If there is anything better than witnessing and participating in the baptism of a grandchild, I don’t know what it is.

Books

Megalessons

Jan 29, 2008 reviewed by Anthony B. Robinson

M.E.M.O.

On a mission

What happened to mainline churches

Jul 10, 2007 by Martin E. Marty

When asked, “Whatever happened to the mainline Protestant churches?" as I often am, I respond: Mainline decline is an old, tired story, but mainliners’ mission is urgent. How are mainline churches recovering? By going local in order to turn global.

The Christian Century