Interesting article. How does this parallel to our own movement, if at all?
Quote:
SOUTHERN BAPTIST MEMBERSHIP, BAPTISMS DECLINE IN 2007
By ROSE FRENCH, Associated Press Writer
Fri Apr 25, 5:28 AM ET
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The number of people baptized in Southern Baptist churches fell for the third straight year in 2007 to the denomination's lowest level since 1987, and membership dipped slightly as well.
The president of the Southern Baptist Convention blamed the decline in part on a perception that its followers are "mean-spirited, hurtful and angry."
Baptisms last year dropped nearly 5.5 percent to 345,941, compared with 364,826 in 2006, according to an annual report released Wednesday by LifeWay Christian Resources, the convention's publishing arm.
Total membership was 16,266,920 last year, down nearly 40,000 from 2006.
The dropping number of followers in the nation's largest Protestant denomination reflects a trend in other mainline Protestant churches, while non-denominational churches are gaining and the ranks of the unaffiliated are growing.
But for a denomination that places winning converts at the heart of its mission, the continued slide is troubling and disappointing, said the Rev. Frank Page, the convention's president.
Part of the blame can be placed on a notion that Baptists have been known too much in recent years for "what we're against" than "what we're for," Page said.
"Our culture is increasingly antagonistic and sometimes adverse to a conversation about a faith in Christ," he said. "Sometimes that's our fault because we have not always presented a winsome Christian life that would engender trust and a desire on the part of many people to engage in a conversation on the Gospel.
"All Southern Baptists should recommit to a life of loving people and ministering to people without strings attached so people will be more open to hearing the Gospel message."
The Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention adheres strictly to conservative beliefs, including the inerrancy of the Bible. The denomination is second in size in the United States only to the Roman Catholic Church.
In the past 50 years, the number of annual baptisms per church member — a key indicator of church growth — has dropped sharply. Southern Baptists baptized one person for every 19 church members in 1950, a ratio that dropped to 1 baptism for every 47 church members in 2007, according to the report.
Baptism is a public act administered by a church in which followers are immersed in water, symbolizing believers' identification with Jesus.
To counter the decline in baptisms, former SBC president Bobby Welch led an ambitious effort to baptize 1 million people in the year beginning Oct. 30, 2005. Church records show there were 371,850 baptisms in all of 2005.
The denomination's baptisms peaked in 1972 at 445,725, based on statistics Lifeway has collected from Southern Baptist churches since 1922.
While baptisms and membership were down in 2007, the number of Southern Baptist churches grew by 1.1 percent to 44,696 and worship attendance increased slightly to 6.15 million, according to the report.
David Key, director of Baptist studies at Emory University's Candler School of Theology, attributes the declining numbers on Baptist parents having fewer children than in years past. He also believes Baptist leaders haven't been aggressive enough in attracting nonwhite members.
"It's not just about parents not having enough children, but we also haven't adjusted our youth programs to target multicultural youth," he said. "It's still a very white Southern experience as opposed to incorporating African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians."
__________________
When a newspaper posed the question, "What's Wrong with the World?" G. K. Chesterton reputedly wrote a brief letter in response: "Dear Sirs: I am. Sincerely Yours, G. K. Chesterton." That is the attitude of someone who has grasped the message of Jesus.
Many of the non-denomination churches don't preach against sin. They preach positive feel good messages. People are flocking to preachers that will scratch their ears. It seems like more and more gay churches are popping up now too. Rather than repent they go to churches that allow them to live in their sins while telling them they are still saved
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
Michael Catt a Pastor in Albany, Georgia is the President of the 2008 Southern Baptist Convention Pastor's Conference.
Here is an article he wrote.
"This year's Pastors' Conference will focus on a call to prepare for revival -- and the outpouring of witness and ministry that results. Gathering under the banner, "Prepare for Rain," participants will focus the role of prayer and brokenness in spiritual renewal.
"What we've done at times is we've hit our preachers over the head and said we need to be more evangelistic, but the reality is we don't have praying churches that are longing for revival," Catt said. "If there's not prayer and brokenness in revival, our churches are not going to do a better job of evangelism because carnal people don't have a burden for lost people."
Working from that premise, each of the four conference sessions will focus on an element of that process: prayer, brokenness, revival and evangelism, Catt said.
Beginning April 29, a 40-day prayer guide will be available at www.sbcpc.net to help pastors prepare spiritually for the conference.
Catt hopes the conference will be a time for renewing the spirits of pastors who are struggling.
"The Pastors' Conference needs to be for guys who are rolling into town on four flat tires, ready to resign," he said. "I'm praying that God so moves in that room that it's no longer about where are we going to eat but it really stirs the hearts of every man and woman in that room toward doing something different for God. What would happen if 5,000 pastors -- who influence between 2.5 and 3 million people each week -- got desperate before God and walked into their pulpits different men the next Sunday?"
It's not just non-denominational churches that aren't preaching against sin. I have heard sin preached against in a Baptist church much more than I have a Pentecostal church. I have found that my Baptist friends have way more morals than my Pentecostal friends. I have been amazed at what I have learned in the last few years.
I know Pentecostals that don't have a conscience about watching half naked women on tv. They are so desensitized by it that it doesn't faze them. Yet, I have Baptist friends that wouldn't think about watching some of those programs because they feel the programs are spiritually unhealthy.
It's not just non-denominational churches that aren't preaching against sin. I have heard sin preached against in a Baptist church much more than I have a Pentecostal church. I have found that my Baptist friends have way more morals than my Pentecostal friends. I have been amazed at what I have learned in the last few years.
I know Pentecostals that don't have a conscience about watching half naked women on tv. They are so desensitized by it that it doesn't faze them. Yet, I have Baptist friends that wouldn't think about watching some of those programs because they feel the programs are spiritually unhealthy.
I think we may have a classic case where legalized standards have been taught to the detriment of principles. So many UPC folk have been hammered the 39 holiness standards (25 in some churches and 89 in others) that any loophole that can be found, is quickly jumped through.
But those who are taught principles can find NO loopholes.
It's not just non-denominational churches that aren't preaching against sin. I have heard sin preached against in a Baptist church much more than I have a Pentecostal church. I have found that my Baptist friends have way more morals than my Pentecostal friends. I have been amazed at what I have learned in the last few years.
I know Pentecostals that don't have a conscience about watching half naked women on tv. They are so desensitized by it that it doesn't faze them. Yet, I have Baptist friends that wouldn't think about watching some of those programs because they feel the programs are spiritually unhealthy.
...and of course we could say the reverse is true as well. Such is the nature of anecdotal evidence.
Surely you are not saying UPC folks are watching MORE TV on average than Baptists. Or UPC members are more prone to watching filth...?
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
...and of course we could say the reverse is true as well. Such is the nature of anecdotal evidence.
Surely you are not saying UPC folks are watching MORE TV on average than Baptists. Or UPC members are more prone to watching filth...?
I didn't say anything about UPC nor did I say anything about who was watching MORE TV! Nor did I say that UPC members are more prone to watching filth.
I think we may have a classic case where legalized standards have been taught to the detriment of principles. So many UPC folk have been hammered the 39 holiness standards (25 in some churches and 89 in others) that any loophole that can be found, is quickly jumped through. But those who are taught principles can find NO loopholes.
Exactly! I guess real sin to some folks is standards.
Linear Mode
