So
you thought that only conservative churches were growing, or that Christianity
in general was in a period of rapid decline during the 1990's.
Think again.
When asked, "What is your religion, if any?," researchers found that
Americans identified themselves as being affiliated with specific denominations.
Extrapolated across the entire population, these responses indicate patterns of
affiliation, including growth or decline of various denominations across an eleven
year period. Surprisingly, the fastest growing denominational group in the US
during this period was also one of the most liberal, namely, the United Church
of Christ. Baptists, considered one of the more conservative groups, showed no
growth, and another conservative denomination, the Jehovah's Witnesses, actually
saw a decline in the number of people identifying themselves as such. Meanwhile,
the Presbyterians and Episcopalians, though caught up during this period in painful
battles over the ordination of gay and lesbian members, also posted solid gains.
If
you want to talk with someone in person, please feel free to call: 917-439-2305
The Rev. Charles P. Henderson is a Presbyterian minister and author of Faith, Science and the Future, published in 1994 by CrossCurrents Press. He is also the author of God and Science (John Knox / Westminster, 1986) which he is now rewriting to incorporate more recent developments in the conversation taking place between scientists and theologians. He has also written widely for such publications as The New York Times, The Nation, Commonweal, The Christian Century and others.