In the years since I graduated from seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in 2001 much has changed. The overall landscape of theological education has shifted. While the Master of Divinity degree remains the preferred pathway to ordination in Mainline Protestant denominations, it is increasingly possible for folks to chart paths to ordination without it. And, it is also now possible to complete one's entire program (M.Div. or otherwise) online without ever stepping foot on a seminary Read More …
Trends
Are You Part of the 42%? (#2223)
When I ask people to guess what percentage of the American population is made up of white Christians, their answers typically range from just over half to nearly the entire population. And, if they were responding decades ago they would have been correct. In reality, less than half of the population belongs to this group today following decades of decline. Recent Decline Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) published the graphic above in May 2023 illustrating the changes not Read More …
My Action Figure (#2217)
The last few weeks I've seen a number of people posting pictures of personalized action figures still in their packaging. These have been appearing on my Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and Threads feeds with some regularity. Creating I was intrigued and decided to create one. Using a free ChatGPT account, I uploaded a photo and included a prompt that offered a brief overview of my roles as Interim Senior Pastor at Advent Lutheran Church and Chief Executive Officer White Rock Center of Read More …
Surprise! Almost Everyone Goes to Church (#2193)
Unlike most data about church attendance that relies on self-reported responses to survey questions, a new working paper by Devin G. Pope relies on cell phone data. And, amazingly, finds that "73% of people step into a religious place of worship at least once during the year on the primary day of worship (e.g. Sundays for most Christian churches)" Exploring the 73% It is astonishing that more than 7 in 10 Americans physically show up in houses of worship at least once a year. It is even Read More …
2024 in Exactly 100 Words (#2173)
After sending Christmas letters back in the era when postal mail was just called mail, I shifted that annual correspondence online many years ago. In 2016 I condensed it to 100 words recognizing that most people simply skim the longer format of what often becomes a family newsletter. Every year since, I've written a 100 word year in review summary. And, I started sharing that content here on So What Faith last year. This year’s edition follows. 2024 in Review After starting a new job Read More …
Giving Thanks – Top 10 Experiences in 2024 (#2168)
Welcome to the month of giving thanks, a month that includes the Thanksgiving holiday. In recent years (2023, 2022 2021), I've taken time in early November to reflect on all of the life experiences I had since the prior November. Below you'll find my Top 10 Experiences from the past year along with links to any relevant blog posts here on So What Faith. I invite you to consider crafting your own list and sharing it with someone dear to you. Read More …
Turning Your Vehicle Into a Religious Billboard (#2162)
It happened to me again last week. I found myself behind a vehicle with a religious message I couldn't help but notice. For whatever reason, the driver chose to pull over not long after I'd determined to snap a picture of the message, which reads, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." You don't need to be a religion scholar to figure out that this is a quote from the New Testament. A quick Google search would show any curious Read More …
Chronicling and Shepherding Religious Decline: One Pastor’s Story (#2139)
In recent years Ryan Burge has increasingly become known as the guy who effectively communicates the story of religious decline in America through accessible articles filled with charts and graphs. He currently serves as Associate Professor at Eastern Illinois University and as the founder of Graphs about Religion, which is a website focused on religion and politics. Burge is also the author of four books, including one of So What Faith's Top Books of 2022: 20 Myths About Religion and Politics Read More …
My Religion is Dying: A Deep Dive into Mainline Decline (#2128)
Confession: I am a lifelong Mainline Protestant. While I've switched denominations many times - from Presbyterian (PCUSA) to Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to Lutheran (ELCA) to Presbyterian (PCUSA) to United Church of Christ to Presbyterian (PCUSA) to United Church of Christ - I've never left this religious tradition. Stating the Obvious For my entire lifetime, Mainline Protestant denominations have all been experiencing a numeric decline in membership. The narrative of decline Read More …
ELCA Membership Cut in Half (#2125)
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was formed in 1988 by the merger of three Lutheran denominations: American Lutheran Church, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and the Lutheran Church in America. And, almost every year since its creation, the denomination has experienced a decline in membership. This trend is consistent with what has happened in Mainline Protestantism at large (a grouping used by sociologists for seven theologically progressive denominations, Read More …