It is commonly reported that denominations are dying in America. Their demise is sometimes equated with Christianity’s decline, which is a mistaken equation.  By some measures overall church attendance has remained remarkably constant across 80 years.

How many Christians do you know under age 50, much less age 40, with passionate attachment to a Protestant or evangelical denomination?

Outside of clergy and denominational employees, I know very few. Washington DC has over the last decade enjoyed a flourishing season of new church plants collectively including thousands of young people in their 20s and 30s.

Most of these churches are tied to a denomination but they rarely advertise it. Some actively disguise it. The members and worshippers from those churches I meet rarely express great commitment or even interest in the congregation’s denominational affiliation. Sometimes they are unaware of it. For them it is close to inconsequential.

It is commonly reported that denominations are dying in America. Their demise is sometimes equated with Christianity’s decline, which is a mistaken equation.  By some measures overall church attendance has remained remarkably constant across 80 years. But where people choose to worship has become increasingly a matter of market choice not strong historic affiliation.

Liberal Mainline Protestant denominations have declined for over 50 years. Some conservative denominations like the Southern Baptist Convention are now declining after decades of growth. Other evangelical denominations like the Assemblies of God enjoy continued growth. The Presbyterian Church in America had grown for years, then declined, and now is growing again. Growing evangelical denominations are increasingly diverse racially and ethically.

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