While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more Americans are leaving organized religion in search of personalized faith perspectives that embrace syncretism — a fusion of different religions. The study, Breaking Free of the Iron Cage: The Individualization of American Religion, was published in the peer-reviewed open access academic journal Socius.
New York Deconsecration Pilgrimage Rekindled Sacred Memories
Myriad reasons, including declining membership, have led to the closure of New York parishes over the years. Church canons, including the Dennis Canon, which states that properties are held in trust by the diocese where they’re located, guide the liquidation of properties no longer used for worship. Before this can proceed, a service for secularization must be conducted, in which the bishop’s Declaration of Secularization is read. The document’s public proclamation revokes the “Sentence of Consecration and remits the building and all objects in it for any lawful and reputable use in accordance with the laws of the land,” An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church says.
Episcopal churches prepare for traditional surge in attendance for Holy Week, Easter
Congregations across The Episcopal Church are busy this week preparing to welcome regular worshippers, friends, relatives and new visitors to their Holy Week services, culminating Sunday on Easter, which falls this year on April 20. And although The Episcopal Church and most other mainline Protestant denominations are experiencing long-term declines in Sunday attendance, the Easter surge is still a reliable phenomenon in Episcopal pews, with churchwide numbers more than doubling that day, according to parochial report data.
Artistic creativity fuels a Houston church’s mission
A Texas congregation has formed itself and transformed a worn-down warehouse with art at the core of theology and community.
Related: Brooklyn’s Holy Apostles church engages children with after-school education, puppetryAttempted censure of Episcopal bishop stuck in committee but she explains more to Sojourners
The Congressional attempt to censure Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde for her homily at the Washington National Cathedral appears to be going exactly nowhere. Three months after the service tied to Donald Trump’s inauguration as president, the proposed resolution remains stuck in a committee in the House of Representatives. There has been no public action on what would be an extremely rare legislative censure of a preacher.
Related: A Conversation with Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde: How We Learn to be BravePelagius: Are we really that bad?
How bad are human beings? It would have to be admitted that the obvious answer is ‘well, pretty bad’. But anyone who is a parent knows that a key tactic in helping children to behave is to expect better of them. Somehow, they will rise to meet the standard expected of them. Aren’t human beings as a whole like this? If we simply say ‘It’s no good: they’re simply evil and always will be’ won’t we get what we expect? Doesn’t it make sense to say to people, ‘not only is doing good something you ought to do; it is also something you can do’? This very debate was circulating it amongst Christians some 1500 years ago.
Here Are 4 Things Healthy Leaders Do
No leader or pastor starts their career or starts a church with thinking about quitting. All of them start with grand plans and dreams of the future and finishing, retiring, making it to the end with friends and family around them. Yet statistically that is incredibly rare. Most quit, give up, fall out of the race or simply stop trying while still collecting a paycheck.
How to Handle Small Group Conflict
Community is messy business! Having differences in a small group, acknowledging disappointments and hurt feelings, running up against frustrations and challenges is all part of moving to deeper maturity in community and Christ-likeness. If you experience small group conflict, take heart! Conflict can be the very thing that helps your group to break-through to new levels of honesty and freedom in Christ.
5 Reasons Why Kids Won’t Read the Bible They’ve Been Given
There are many reasons why kids might not actually read the Bible they’ve been given. Here are just a few—and some thoughts on how to help!
The Christian Life
The Christian life is the life of repentance, faith, and good works lived through the power of the Spirit and with the help of the means of grace as the Christian is conformed to the image of Christ to the glory of God.
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