What’s Keeping Progressive Christianity from Actually Progressing?

Numbers Don’t Lie…

We look at the major denominations such as “the United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (not to be confused with Confessional Lutheranism), the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Episcopal Church, the American Baptist Churches…[3]” (the list goes on)

The Washington Post says that “if current trends continue, mainline Protestantism has about 23 Easters left[1].”

That was two Easters ago.

Furthermore, “It’s estimated that 8,000-10,000 churches will close their doors this year. I’m assuming that has something to do with the whopping 80% of the US adult cohort opting out of attending Church (Millennials and Religion).” 

Putting this in a different light: Before a large portion of millennials hit the age of 50 the protestant mainline will be almost, if not completely, extinct.

All the while, most interestingly regarding these numbers is that while mainline churches are rapidly declining, splitting, and bleeding out megachurches are thriving. Their growth is explosive.

(Side note: it’s fair to say that these churches aren’t growing because they’re rapidly “converting”, they’re growing because they’re picking up all the fleeing sheep from these dwindling mainline congregations)