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Southern Baptists Now a 'Declining Denomination'
The Christian Post ^ | Apr. 24 2008 | Lillian Kwon

Posted on 04/25/2008 8:25:29 AM PDT by Between the Lines

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Does this mean that Southern Baptists can now say we are a Mainline denomination?
1 posted on 04/25/2008 8:25:29 AM PDT by Between the Lines
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To: Between the Lines

My little church in Lousiana had over a hundred “members” but only about 40 ever showed up and less than that tithed. The term “membership” is somewhat fungible anyway.


2 posted on 04/25/2008 8:28:50 AM PDT by Soliton (McCain couldn't even win a McCain look-alike contest)
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To: Between the Lines

Mt wife’s church of several hundred dropped out of the SBC because they simply couldn’t tolerate the national “leadership” any longer.


3 posted on 04/25/2008 8:32:18 AM PDT by gracesdad
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To: Between the Lines
"The temptation will be that the news of the day will result in a new denominational obsession to fix the problem with a new plan.

That will only work if the "new plan" is actually the "original" plan.
4 posted on 04/25/2008 8:32:41 AM PDT by rickomatic
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To: Between the Lines

I’ll tell you where part of the problem lies. Travelling soccer and baseball teams, club cheerleading teams, etc... I teach Sunday School and about half of the children are gone two or three weeks a month to attend these events.


5 posted on 04/25/2008 8:45:40 AM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: Soliton

Our church has about 900 adults packing three Sunday services every Sunday, about 650 of which are members. While we have seen much growth in our 9 year history, there has been little this year do to lack of space. Next month we move into our new building that seats 550. We fear we may have already outgrown the building before we are even in it.


6 posted on 04/25/2008 8:47:49 AM PDT by Between the Lines (I am very cognizant of my fallibility, sinfulness, and other limitations.)
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To: Between the Lines
Anyone really interested should bookmark Tom Ascol's blog and follow what he has to say, and the links which he provides.
7 posted on 04/25/2008 8:50:36 AM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
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To: rickomatic

Wasn’t there a plan last year for increasing baptisms?


8 posted on 04/25/2008 8:51:51 AM PDT by Between the Lines (I am very cognizant of my fallibility, sinfulness, and other limitations.)
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To: Soliton
That's true, but irrelevant. You can say that of all churches. A Pentecostal church I'm close to has 5,000 "in church" but 20,000 on the rolls. Our "Willow-Creek lite" has 1,500 in church, but 3,000 on the rolls.

I think what is undeniable is that the Baptists have started to lose ground. Here in Dayton, the largest Southern Baptist Church (the biggest north of the Mason-Dixon Line) split in half over the (immoral) actions of its minister; and neither of the remaining churches have the name "Baptist."

But people can deny or hide their heads in the sand and pretend this isn't happening. I don't care, because I'm no longer a Southern Baptist.

9 posted on 04/25/2008 9:25:45 AM PDT by LS (CNN is the Amtrak of News)
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To: Between the Lines

read later


10 posted on 04/25/2008 10:14:32 AM PDT by LiteKeeper (Beware the secularization of America; the Islamization of Eurabia)
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To: Between the Lines

BTTT


11 posted on 04/25/2008 10:18:18 AM PDT by Rightly Biased (Courage is not the lack of fear it is acting in spite of it<><)
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To: Between the Lines

Prayers for your Church and all Christian Churches.


12 posted on 04/25/2008 11:02:15 AM PDT by klossg (GK - God is good!)
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To: LS
I don't care, because I'm no longer a Southern Baptist.

we just left our Southern Baptist church earlier this year...

13 posted on 04/25/2008 11:05:44 AM PDT by latina4dubya
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To: Between the Lines

That darn Jimmy Swaggart anyway.


14 posted on 04/25/2008 11:31:06 AM PDT by Invincibly Ignorant
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To: klossg
Amen!

Thank you and God bless you. Prayers for your Church also.

15 posted on 04/25/2008 11:35:48 AM PDT by Between the Lines (I am very cognizant of my fallibility, sinfulness, and other limitations.)
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To: Invincibly Ignorant

Oh, Soory. Swaggart is Assemblies of God, a charismatic/pentacostal denom. Thanks for playing ‘Name that Deonimination.’ : )


16 posted on 04/25/2008 12:48:27 PM PDT by Augustinian monk (You going to pull those pistols or whistle Dixie?- Jose Wales)
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To: BibChr
Thanks for the link! I briefly looked at it and will check it out more later.
17 posted on 04/25/2008 1:03:56 PM PDT by Between the Lines (I am very cognizant of my fallibility, sinfulness, and other limitations.)
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To: Augustinian monk

LOL


18 posted on 04/25/2008 1:04:20 PM PDT by Between the Lines (I am very cognizant of my fallibility, sinfulness, and other limitations.)
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To: Augustinian monk

tomato tomahto


19 posted on 04/25/2008 2:25:41 PM PDT by Invincibly Ignorant
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To: Between the Lines

The numbers being thrown around look like statistical noise. 473 new churches coming into the fold is a good number as is the increased attendance.

Much ado about nothing?


20 posted on 04/25/2008 2:27:44 PM PDT by TexanToTheCore (If it ain't Rugby or Bullriding, it's for girls.........................................)
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