What do you think were the major developments in the world of religion for 2010? I think we can do better than the lists from religious journalists that I’ve seen. Look not only for events but also for trends that came into view in the preceding year but that might have a longer lasting effect.
I’ll go first:
–With the election of Matthew Harrison to the presidency, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod made a U-turn in direction, from a church body that officially wanted to emulate the rest of American Christianity to a church body that other American Christians may want to emulate. The new president stands on the Lutheran confessional distinctives without being insular, and pushing the denomination in a winsome, compassionate, internationally-engaged direction.
–Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral went bankrupt. Other positive-thinking, prosperity gospel ministries and believers ran up against the economic collapse. Does this herald the end of that particular heresy? Does it herald the decline of the megachurch?
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