In 1965, the denomination numbered 4,254,597 members. Today, the number is 2,016,091. Presbyterian Church (USA) statistics have been released by national church headquarters, revealing a massive membership hemorrhage. On December 31, 2010, the PCUSA recorded a loss of 61,047 members. At its current loss rate, the denomination will dead in less than 40 years. The... Continue Reading

“They hear a lot in Appalachia of, ‘Oh I want to help you,’ and then people show up for a week and never come back, and that is where a lot of disappointment and reluctance to open up comes from. So we have gone back consistently three to four times a year over the last... Continue Reading

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council on Inter-religious Dialogue (PCID) have released a statement on the ethics of Christian evangelism. “Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct,” released June 28 at the WCC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, is the result of a five-year... Continue Reading

Gladd, a graduate of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Hamilton, Mass. calls himself “theologically conservative and socially liberal,” the latter informed by an internship at a poor urban mission in Tulsa, Okla A church congregation that can trace its roots back to the late 17th century has just called to the pulpit a 27-year-old pastor... Continue Reading

Some say the UUA is held back by members’ reluctance to proclaim religious tenets—a tricky task for an association that includes Christians, Buddhists, Jews, pagans, humanists and spiritual refugees from a host of more dogmatic faiths. A recent Sunday service at the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore ended with an apology. Laurel Mendes explained that... Continue Reading

Gross won’t disclose the names of those who pledged to disobey church law if couples come forward seeking ceremonies. He has encouraged pastors to co-officiate holy unions so they don’t suffer the consequences alone. “Our power is in our collective power,” Gross said. “What speaks is there are 208 of us who have said this.... Continue Reading

This means the number of Psalms one is able to sing is multiplied greatly without having to learn many new tunes. The Index of Biblical Topics will also be useful to the pastor as he attempts to choose Psalms which will help the congregation focus on the message he will bring to them during the... Continue Reading

The 320-member Lighthouse Community Church (formerly named First Reformed of Allendale) has laid the groundwork to terminate its 90-year affiliation with the Reformed Church in America, in part because of a “counterfeit unity not founded upon truth,” said Steve Demers, senior pastor. (Editor’s note: Demers is a graduate of Covenant Seminary and for our PCA... Continue Reading

Many congregations, North and South, chose this route and most became a part of the PCA. However, the overwhelming majority of congregations opted to remain a part of the newly formed Presbyterian Church, USA. The existence of the much smaller and very conservative PCA need not be viewed as an indication of the failure of... Continue Reading

Nearly 40 percent of ministerial students enrolled at 14 theological schools identified as ministry partners with CBF were women, higher than the national average of members of the Association of Theological Schools. Women are making slow but steady progress into ministry positions in Baptist churches, according to a report released June 22 by Baptist Women... Continue Reading