02/02: Rightly Understanding the Current Breakup of the Protestant Mainstream
Category: Mainline Christianity
Posted by: an okie gardener
In media reports, the current breakup of the mainline Protestant denominations such as Presbyterian, Episcopal, UCC, often is presented as conservatives versus liberals. This characterization is not exactly accurate.
While "conservative" is a relative word, I think it is misleading to term the present insurgents among mainliners conservative. "Moderate" would be better. Why do I say this?
Consider one of the more recent Presbyterian (PCUSA) congregations to begin the process of leaving their denomination, the 2,000-member Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church near Chattanooga, Tennessee. (website here) They are leaving because they perceive themselves to have a "a stricter view of Scripture than that held by the greater portion of the PCUSA." Article from the Chattanooga Times Free Press here.
But note that they are moving to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) denomination. Not the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).
Signal Mountain Presbyterian elder Diane N. Mizell said the session examined many different denominations with a Presbyterian form of government before choosing the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. A key reason they chose the denomination was because it permits women as ministers, session members and deacons, she said. "That was important to us," Ms. Mizell said.
Those congregations which are very conservative, I think, have already left the mainline denominations. The current wave of defections are mostly moderate churches. The liberal power structures of these denominations have made a serious mistake if they are unable or unwilling to keep the moderates on board.
While "conservative" is a relative word, I think it is misleading to term the present insurgents among mainliners conservative. "Moderate" would be better. Why do I say this?
Consider one of the more recent Presbyterian (PCUSA) congregations to begin the process of leaving their denomination, the 2,000-member Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church near Chattanooga, Tennessee. (website here) They are leaving because they perceive themselves to have a "a stricter view of Scripture than that held by the greater portion of the PCUSA." Article from the Chattanooga Times Free Press here.
But note that they are moving to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) denomination. Not the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).
Signal Mountain Presbyterian elder Diane N. Mizell said the session examined many different denominations with a Presbyterian form of government before choosing the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. A key reason they chose the denomination was because it permits women as ministers, session members and deacons, she said. "That was important to us," Ms. Mizell said.
Those congregations which are very conservative, I think, have already left the mainline denominations. The current wave of defections are mostly moderate churches. The liberal power structures of these denominations have made a serious mistake if they are unable or unwilling to keep the moderates on board.
Tocqueville wrote:
http://www.opinionjournal.c...