Posted on 10/25/2017 11:20:06 AM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal
FULL TITLE: Churches merge, close: 'We no longer live in Christendom. We really have to accept that it's a thing of the past'
For a decade and more, Govans Presbyterian Church and Brown Memorial Woodbrook Presbyterian Church have labored in the manner of many mainline Protestant congregations: Working ever harder to provide spiritual resources for dwindling number of congregants.
Govans, on York Road in North Baltimore, has been hosting its Sunday night dinners for the poor and helping lead GEDCO, the social service organization it co-founded in 1984.
Brown Memorial Woodbrook, about two miles from Govans on North Charles Street, has been running its busy Sunday school and community garden and working on LGBT equality and other social justice issues.
But with attendance stagnating, maintenance costs rising and the population of Christians from which to draw shrinking, the two have decided to join forces. If the Baltimore Presbytery gives its approval next month, they’ll become one congregation before the end of the year, bringing more than 280 worshippers and 230 years of history together under one roof.
(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...
ping
Many Presbyterian churches are not “mainline” at all but try to be trendy, cutting edge left wing groups catering to every anti Christian philosophy around. Its no wonder some or all of their churches are sinking. No point in going to church if that is where you are going.
Mainstream churches are dying on the vine. If you search the denominational “find a church in your area” sites, many have less than 50 members.
No - You no longer teach of Christ and of the Bible.
There are many evangelical and conservative churches EXPLODING with members.
What could be the difference?
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‘We no longer live in Christendom. We really have to accept that it’s a thing of the past’
There's nothing wrong with helping people in need, but I don't see any "spiritual resources" at work here. The "dwindling number of congregants" is directly attributable to the decisions these organizations have made to become social services agencies rather than religious institutions. Any church that pursues this course of action is going to find itself irrelevant as the state takes on more and more responsibilities that used to be called charity.
Issat the one is is lukewarm and He gonnna spit it out of His mout?
We no longer live in Christendom. We really have to accept that it’s a thing of the past.....Other than passing the plate, WTF is your business model?
It surprises me that THEY are surprised. When you stop teaching the word of GOD as HE intended it. Things like this will happen. It’s really that simple. GOD’s word is timeless. Look at whats happening to the underground churches in China, North Korea, and even Iran and tell me the church is dead.
The communists have infiltrated and undermined most mainstream churches to indoctrinate them or drive out believers.
Weakening our faith is essential to get us to submit or die.
GEDCO is a non-profit organization that seems to be comprised of every religious denomination under the sun. Is it any wonder that the leadership of these churches don't find Christianity in the world around them anymore?
Too many main stream churches embracing sodomites. Few respect the FULL gospel. People need to hear the Word of God, not feel-good ear candy.
“A time will come when instead of Shepherds feeding the sheep, the Church will have clowns entertaining the goats”
Charles Spurgeon
There is lies your problem, as this is diametrically opposed to the Bible.
Frankly a lot of churches need to close. Many have completely outlived their usefulness.
A few key indicators that your church may be on borrowed time.
• The gospel is no longer preached and every sermon is crafted with the goal of avoiding offense.
• Nobody gives without expecting something in return
• Those who do give think of themselves as shareholders and expect the church to conform to their vision.
• Membership is in the hundreds but attendance is in the low double-digits.
• Nobody can remember the last time the baptistry was used.
• The church can no longer support itself financially without mooching from the community. When the roof leaks, they need to have a bake or rummage sale to pay the bills.
• Funerals have overtaken weddings and baptisms
• There hasn’t been a viable Sunday School program in years
• When the pastor is sick or on vacation, church doesn’t happen
• Your church is either all old people (which will literally die out) or young people (lacking the wisdom and experience to function as a church)
• There are multiple services on Sundays, each based on musical preferences, none of which are anywhere near full
• Pastoral tenure keeps getting shorter and shorter or every pastor is considered “interim”
• The church is one unexpected bill away from closing its doors.
Yes, mainstream liberal, social action ministry churches are dying, especially in urban areas. This has been going on since the 60’s. Helping the poor does not include the kind of liberal works these folks advocate.
Had their emphasis been on the Gospel of Jesus Christ instead of liberal social action works, their churches would be increasing membership.
God knows just what he is doing. He is in control. Isaiah 45:7
Hetero whites aren’t reproducing at the old rates, and the LGBTQRSTUVWXYZs certainly don’t have kids. Loretta Lynn summed it up in ‘75. “Now I’ve got the pill”
The Methodist church down the street from my mother
was down to 16 members when it closed earlier this year.
A church in our town, inhabiting a building erected in 1809, recently discovered the steeple was rotten. They didn’t take up a collection. Instead, they hit up the historic preservation fund run by the state. Being a liberal state, they got the money.
These same liberals are hell bent to keep a “wall of separation” between church and state. No wall was needed or wanted in this case since it benefited them.
I wonder what the good Christian men and women who founded the church would think of their church successors.
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