In December 2023, my wife started a new job in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. Since her work requires on site leadership, we immediately became a multi-state family. We retained our home in Arlington, Texas and rented an apartment in Oklahoma City. Then, a few months later, we purchased a home in Oklahoma City. I planned to spend at least one weekend a month in Oklahoma. And, on Sunday mornings we expected to visit one of the area Mainline Protestant congregations. That plan worked Read More …
church
Long-Term Church Membership (#2201)
Somehow I've managed to do what I once assumed impossible: become a long-term member of a local congregation. I've been part of several congregations for three years and one congregation for four years, however, those medium-term experiences included both church membership and paid service on the church staff. And, in the case of my four years at Naples United Church of Christ not only was I both a church member and a member of the church staff, I was not present for worship on Sunday mornings 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 …
Visiting 75 Churches in the Dallas – Fort Worth Metro Area (#2119)
Many people visit a few churches. Some people visit many churches. I've been fortunate to visit an incredible number of congregations, including 75 in the Dallas - Fort Worth metropolitan area of Texas. As I reflect on these diverse experiences, I begin with context. The map below shows the locations of each congregation When I first moved back to Texas in 2015 after nearly a decade away, my family resided in the Northern portion of the metro area. And, during those years, I Read More …
Demolition: One Less Church (#2111)
The numeric decline of American Christianity has been the most publicized religious story for my entire life. In recent years, more and more stories have focused on congregational closures. Just a few weeks ago, I featured Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition edited by Mark Elsdon as one of the top new books for the month of February. Demo Take a look at the image below. What do you see? What do you imagine is happening? Shoreline I took the Read More …
Am I Living in the Most Protestant Place in America? (#2068)
Dallas - Arlington - Fort Worth, Texas (aka the D/FW metro area) has been my home for most of my life. Given D/FW's location, it isn't surprising that the area is more religious than the United States is on average. But, just how religious is it? And, just how Protestant? Most Religious Counties Last month sociologist Ryan Burge compiled a list of the Most Religiously Affiliated Highly Populated Counties in America as defined by the percentage of people in the county who are attached Read More …
5 Star Books Published in 2022 (#2018)
Welcome to the fourth annual edition of So What Faith's 5 Star Books of the Year! This year, 17% of all books rated received a rating of 5 or 5+ to earn this honor (in prior years the percentage has ranged from 15% to 17%). Anthony M. Annett. Cathonomics: How Catholic Tradition Can Create a More Just Economy.Jennifer Garcia Bashaw. Scapegoats: The Gospel through the Eyes of Victims.Molly Phinney Baskette. How to Begin When Your World is Ending: A Spiritual Field Guide to Joy Despite Read More …
The Church of Hope (#2011)
One congregation stands alone on my faith journey as the church of hope. It is the congregation I joined in 2017 following an extensive search. It is the only congregation I've been a part of for an extended period of time in my adult life where I've not been employed. And, it is the local church that has taught me much about hope and inspired me to engage more deeply in the work of hope. Discovering Hope After serving 8 congregations, I chose to leave congregational ministry. In 2015, Read More …
Celebrating So What Faith: 13 Years & 2,000+ Posts (#2002)
Thirteen years ago today, I launched So What Faith. One day later, I added my first blog post. Thank you for journeying with me. While this blog has remain committed to exploring matters of faith that matter, my vocational context has shifted several times: Churches: First Presbyterian Church, Naples United Church of Christ, United Church of Marco Island, Fort Myers Congregational United Church of Christ, and West Fork Presbyterian ChurchHealthcare: Evolution Health (an Envision Read More …
Celebrating 12 Years of So What Faith (#1936)
In the spring of 2009 I decided to give blogging a try. After doing a little research, talking with several friends and colleagues who had already been blogging for awhile, and brainstorming possible names, I launched So What Faith in June 2009. While I'd love to say that when I launched the site I knew what I was doing and imagined that the site would still be going strong a dozen years later, in reality I simply knew that I was ready to share some of my short form writing about matters of Read More …