Therefore:
Lutheran (EL C S*A) Ping!
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Veni, Sanctae Spiritus!
Posted on 06/07/2019 3:07:17 PM PDT by lightman
American Presbyterians have seen a series of splits and mergers for the past century that have resulted in a multitude of smaller denominations with different interpretations of the Bible and the Creeds. Issues of gender identity, sexuality, and abortion have contributed to divisions in these denominations. Here is a quick overview of the five largest Presbyterian denominations in the United States and where they stand on key issues of abortion, sexuality, marriage, and the persecuted church.
Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC)
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church split from the United Presbyterian Church (a predecessor to the PCUSA) in 1981. The EPC strongly opposes abortion in all cases, though it does make an exception if the pregnancy endangers the life of the mother. Changes made at the 33rd General Assembly of the EPC made clear that only the most extreme circumstances are meant by this exception and simultaneously eliminated other exceptions that were present. The official position paper of the EPC states that the church will “…teach against and refuse to condone or participate in any sinful form of sexual practice.” Listed examples include extra-marital sex, homosexual conduct, and same-sex union and marriage. Furthermore, the EPC disallows divorce for frivolous reasons, instead limiting valid reasons to divorce and willful desertion that the church cannot remedy. In support of the persecuted church worldwide, the EPC regularly participates in the International Day of Prayer and has many outreach-focused events scheduled at their general assembly.
Active membership in the EPC seems to be holding steady at between 140,000 and 150,000 members. While there has been some encouraging growth over the past few years, the most recent (2017) reports of membership showed a 2.6% decline. However, with only one year of data it is impossible to tell if the is the beginning of a decline or an outlier in a larger trend.
Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)
The Presbyterian Church in America is known to be the one of the larger and more conservative Presbyterian denominations in the United States. The PCA explicitly condemns abortion and amendments to their official report on the subject state that even when the life of the mother is in danger, abortion should not be the first option but that labor should be induced and the life of the child saved if possible. Similarly, the PCA also condemns extra-marital sex and homosexuality. Their official position paper also suggests that practicing homosexuals are ineligible for church membership and ordination into leadership roles. Insofar as divorce is concerned, the PCA only accepts adultery and willful desertion as grounds for divorce. In their Actions of the 46th General Assembly, a summary of the major decisions of the General Assembly, the PCA established November 2018 as a special month of prayer for global missions. Additionally, they established November 4th, 2018, as a Day of Prayer for the persecuted church worldwide.
Official statistics suggest that the PCA has been growing steadily over the past few years. Though steady, growth has also been fairly slow, averaging only 1.6% growth in communicant members year-on-year. In 2018 the PCA surpassed 300,000 communicant members in the annual report of their General Assembly.
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is the largest Presbyterian denomination. The PCUSA’s status as a mainline Protestant church is reflected in their stances on social issues. While their official documentation does not recommend abortion, it does permit abortions for any reason. This being said, there are a series of caveats included that in effect state that abortions should only be undertaken when necessary, but again this does not change that abortions are broadly permitted within the PCUSA. The PCUSA is also supportive of homosexuality and same-sex marriage without reservation. In 2011, their Book of Church Order was changed to allow the ordination of practicing homosexuals to church office, including to elderships. While the PCUSA does formally remember and support the persecuted church around the world, they primarily do so in the context of supporting other persecuted groups as well.
Membership within the PCUSA is currently in free fall and has been for the past several years. In many cases they lose more than 50,000 members per year. These would be massive losses for any other Presbyterian denomination. However, it only represents a 4.9% decline in membership per year. The PCUSA currently has approximately 1.3 million active members so these losses do not immediately threaten the life of the church. However, if this pattern continues, the PCUSA will cease to be the largest Presbyterian denomination when the PCA surpasses it in 2041.
Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA)
The Christian Reformed Church in North America is the more conservative of the two major Dutch Reformed Presbyterian denominations in the United States. Membership in the CRCNA has declined somewhat from 172,447 total professing members in 2016 to 161,280 professing members in 2019. Abortion is specifically condemned by the CRCNA, though they do make an exception when the life of the mother is at serious risk. Additionally, the CRCNA emphasizes compassion when dealing with mothers of unwanted pregnancies. The CRCNA explicitly states that homosexual practice has no place in the church and that it is a sin that must be repented from. However, like many other churches, they do urge compassion towards those afflicted with homosexual tendencies. The CRCNA regularly participates in the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church. Furthermore, their Office of Social Justice lists a series of resources on the persecution of both Christians and other religious minorities worldwide.
Membership in the CRCNA has declined somewhat from 176,683 total communicant members in 2016 to 161,280 professing members in 2019. Data from previous years suggests an average decline in communicant membership of 1.8% each year.
Reformed Church in America (RCA)
The Reformed Church in America is the more liberal of the two major Dutch Reformed Presbyterian denominations in the United States. Though they began more conservatively, the RCA has shifted in a much more mainline direction since. The RCA formally came out against abortion in 1973. However, they did add the caveat that exceptions could be made for certain circumstances. While the RCA adopted the position that homosexuality is a sin in 1978, their position has softened since then. Though they have maintained their nominal disapproval of it, they have emphasized compassion and understanding more and more in General Synod pronouncements since 1978. Furthermore, organizations such as Room for All, accept and affirm homosexual members while being officially affiliated with the RCA. The RCA does not appear to mention anything about the persecuted church in its official documentation.
Membership in the RCA has been decreasing at a rate of 1.7% each year. At the time of the 2018 census of the church, communicant membership had dropped to 129,226. It appears to be decreasing in parallel with the other major Dutch Reformed denomination, the CRCNA, which suggests a fall in the popularity of Dutch Reformed churches in general.
Therefore:
Lutheran (EL C S*A) Ping!
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Veni, Sanctae Spiritus!
This doesn’t cover ECO, which is where most of the churches went when they left PCUSA. PCUSA has lost 1/2 of its members since the year 2000.
Taking a position on infanticide and sodomy is a no-brainer for ACTUAL Christians.
A house divided soon falls.
The presbyterian landscape is constantly shifting. A large EPC church in Houston went to the PCA, while a good sized (but smaller) PCA church went to the more liberal ECO.
ECO is a significant player these days - the large churches that left the PCUSA in the last round generally ended up there. (They stayed with the PCUSA through the abortion and fornication fights, but left over homosexuality). Some of the more liberal EPC may shift to ECO as the EPC sheds the outliers at both ends of the spectrum.
The PCA also faces some shakeout - they will either lose the more conservative wing or the Black Lives Matter / pro homosexual element (or perhaps both.) One pro - homosexual church in San Francisco departed a few years ago.
The ARP is moving in a more conservative direction. They still have ordained women deacons, but that is their last remnant from the flirtation with liberalism decades ago.
OPC has remained the most steady of the conservative branches - generally, you are going to know what you are getting with them.
On the Continental side, the RCA and CRC are both flaming liberal denominations, rivals to the PCUSA; the conservative alternative is the URCNA.
There are two issues abortion and homosexuality
you’re on the wrong side either of those you’re not Christian
Dutch Reformed Presbyterian
Uh, what? I sense some confusion on the author's part as to what is a Presbyterian.
Anyways
CRCNA has declined somewhat from 172,447 total professing members in 2016 to 161,280 professing members in 2019.
My possible fallible memory was that it was healthily above 200K when we were members, in the 1980s. Wikipedia has different numbers:
After a time of steady growth during the period of 1963–1992, membership totals have declined, even though the number of churches has grown. In 1992, at the height of its membership, the Christian Reformed Churches had 316,415 members in 981 churches in the United States and Canada. In 2017 membership had dropped to 234,819 members in 1091 churches, marking a loss of 81,596 members (or 26% of its membership) in the last 25 years.[1]
Liberal Christianity doesn't hold people.
What I see of it now saddens me, but it's just as well that providence has taken us elsewhere lately.
The CRCNA explicitly states that homosexual practice has no place in the church and that it is a sin that must be repented from.
Really. The reality on the ground, I suspect, is different. Calvin College has a LGBTB-ETC group.
In all of your American Protestant denominations, you have a split between liberal and orthodox Christianity. The liberal factions have absorbed the left-wing secular culture. It is indistinguishable from secular humanism. It is, at best, culturally Christian. The orthodox factions retain traditional Christain doctrine and practice, which is transcultural. In the orthodox factions, abortion is a sin. In the liberal factions, abortion is a sacrament.
A dozen churches in this town (One for every 200 souls). The biggest is the Lutheran Church (ELCA) followed by the Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian (PCUSA), Baptist, Assembly of God, Mormon...
I have yet to find one that preaches the bible unadulterated.
I believe Bishop Doran said it best:
The seven “sacraments” of their secular culture are abortion, buggery, contraception, divorce, euthanasia, feminism of the radical type, and genetic experimentation and mutilation. These things they unabashedly espouse, profess and promote. Their continuance in public office is a clear and present danger to our survival as a nation.
Try the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). I think you will find what you are looking for.
I'm sure you are right. But I am on an island so it's not like I can just drive over to the next town. The Lutheran Church here is ELCA and that's that.
You have three major movements in modern churches. The first is based on tradition, rites, and liturgy. The second is a modern social liberal club, and the third is a based on experiences and manifestations. All tend to ignore scripture. Expository and verse by verse preaching is rare today. The concept that life is tough and God is our refuge is not as popular as a God who is a magical genie who grants all our wishes and only wants us to be happy.
Sorry. it sounded like there was a variety from your post. Many churches have an online recording of the service for those that can’t make it in person . Not the same I know but it is something.
It includes Reform Judaism and Unitarians as well as the ones historically linked to Protestantism.
“...tradition, rites, and liturgy....”
My experience with liturgical churches (Lutheran, Catholic, Episcopal, Anglican) is that the words spoken are authentically traditional and Scriptural. The amount of liberal or conservative trends comes in the preaching, teaching, and governance of the church.
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