Tuesday's Catch: "Is Christianity Becoming a ‘Dead Wire’?" And More

Is Christianity Becoming a ‘Dead Wire’?

In his 1896 lecture “The Will to Believe,” philosopher William James described religious beliefs as either “live” or “dead” wires.

Sharing the Gospel with Apatheist Friends and Neighbors
Have you ever tried to strike up a conversation about faith with someone who didn’t care about God? Perhaps you asked a question like, “What are your thoughts on faith?” And they replied with a deflated “meh.”

How We Stay in Church Matters as Much as Why
Spiritual abuse survivors who join a new congregation still need to heal from their hurt.

One-Third of Americans Never Attend Church
For the first time in the history of the General Social Survey, more than 1 in 3 Americans say they never attend church.

Get Free Mental Health Resources at the 2023 Church Mental Health Summit
Participants will be equipped with practical tools, engage with Biblically-based resources, and learn research-developed strategies to support mental health.

Church Leaders Urged To ‘Not Give In and Not Give Up’—Study Finds Pastors Suffering Overall Health Decline
After tumultuous years of political unrest, social and cultural shifts, and a pandemic, pastors are among those feeling the effects. A 2022 Barna study found that “pastors across the country are experiencing an alarming decline in mental and physical health....

No Longer Depleted

Serving Jesus in the local church, a Christian nonprofit or any ministry setting is challenging. Even when we rely on the amazing power of the Holy Spirit, we can still hit times when we need to recharge. How do we fortify our body, soul, mind and heart? What can we do to make sure our ministry batteries don’t run low?

A Comeback Story
Jessica Hanewinckel tells the story of how Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church in Jamestown, Kentucky rebounded after a period of serious decline.

Transgender Teens, Pronouns, and Preferred Names: Youth Pastors Grapple with New Questions
In evangelical churches, Gen Z is forcing a discussion on LGBT hospitality.

6 Ways to Build on Student Camp Experiences
There are some tangible ways student leaders in your church can continue fostering relationships they built with students while at camp.

UMC conference with lesbian bishop approves disaffiliation votes of 38 congregations
A Colorado-based conference of the United Methodist Church led by a bishop in a same-sex marriage has approved the disaffiliation votes of 38 congregations leaving the denomination amid a schism over the denomination's stance on homosexuality.

This article and the next one reports on how two United Methodist Church annual conferences have reacted differently to churches seeking to dissafilate themselves from the deomination. One of the more progressive of the UMC anual conferences voted to allow the dissafiliationof 38 congregations, permitting these congregations to take church buildings and other property with them. Progressive Methodists realize that the more conservative clergy and congregations disaffiliate from the UMC, the less the opposition there will be to the changes they desire to make in the denomination. On the other and, the second annual conference appears to be motivated by a desire to hang o to what it sees as valuable church buildings and other property.

Judge Rules in Favor of Arkansas Conference in Jonesboro Case
In a ruling announced from the bench in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on the afternoon of June 22, 2023, Judge Gary Arnold stated that he intends to enter an Order directing the issuance of a Writ of Possession to place into the possession of Arkansas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, Inc. by August 1, 2023, the numerous properties in downtown Jonesboro, Arkansas, formerly owned by First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro, Arkansas and presently occupied by a group that departed from The United Methodist Church.