U.S. Protestant Hispanic churches are finding success in building community within their congregations and reaching those outside their walls.
After the Tornado: The Three Groups We Lost During the Pandemic
A recently released study by researchers at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the University of Chicago found that the long-term effect of the pandemic on worship attendance among American churches was real, but minimal. That is, except for three groups of people whom churches tended to lose: young people, singles and self-identified liberals. As with so many trends, this was a decline already in progress that was simply accelerated by all things COVID.
Not all who harm the church are wolves. Some are renegade sheep.
The distinction makes a difference.
How and When Does Church Discipline Begin?
All of the discussion above begs the questions, “When should church discipline be initiated? For what kind of life struggles is church discipline warranted?” There are four criteria which should be met in order to assess whether a given situation warrants church discipline.
The Difference Between Pop Church Songs and Worship
Most worship songs we sing these days follow some form of pop songwriting ethic. Pop church songs, really. Even the most “out there” worship songs can be linked to some similar sounding thing in popular music. But not all the pop stuff transfers equally. Not only do worship songs differ from pop songs, I find that pop songwriting techniques often work against congregational singing. So, as much as we may enjoy the song-craft and twisty life of pop music, it helps to know the difference when we all start singing together.
In their choice of songs, the volume of the music they play, and their failure to help the congregation to learn, master, and own new songs, many contemporary praise bands are discouraging congregational singing. What is overlooked is that a praise band cannot worship in song for a congregation. It cannot act as a proxy for the congregation. The congregation must worship God in song for itself.Next Gen leader: It’s time for mental health to be a part of student ministry
Harmony Healthcare IT, a data management firm in the healthcare industry, reported in 2022 that 42 percent of Gen Z had a diagnosed mental health condition, with anxiety far and away the most-diagnosed condition.
Parents Want to Raise Ethical Kids, Not Necessarily Religious Ones
Most parents want to raise “good” kids, but they’re less concerned about whether their children share their religious beliefs as adults.
Centrist-progressive coalition could soon unravel
United Methodist centrists and progressives have made common cause in working for the inclusion of LGBTQ people in church life. Lonnie D. Brooks, a veteran General Conference delegate, expects the coalition to be short-lived. He predicts differences will arise between centrists and progressives in how they approach ministry with the poor.
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