WHAT KIND OF CHURCH WILL SURVIVE AND GROW IN THE NEXT MILLENNIUM?
By Bill Leonard,
Dean, Wake Forest University Divinity School

The following is an excerpt from an article in Baptists Today.

Religion in the American south is changing. The old traditions, powerful for almost two centuries, still frame religious identity. But they are fast being overtaken by powerful forces of regional, cultural and theological pluralism, forces which already impact traditional religion in the South. In a real sense, therefore, we are living between the times, experiencing the end of one era and the beginning of another. In a nutshell, my profile of 21st century Southern religion looks something like this:

1. All regions of the country, including the South, will witness a growing number of non-affiliated, unchurched individuals.

2. These increases will expand the gap between the traditionally religious and the non-religious.

3. Declining denominational loyalties will be evident among both churches and individuals.

4. Denominations will be forced to reform and re-order their structures, identities and activities at every level.

5. Churches will give greater attention to local and regional alignments, with some attention to diverse global missions and alliances.

6. At least in the short term, so-called mega-churches will set the agenda for most all churches and denominations in terms of worship, mission, ministry and identity.

7. The growth of a kind of generic, nonsectarian, non-denominational Christianity will confront churches with the challenge of retaining and articulating identifiable, historic, Christian traditions.

8. In increasing numbers, Christian churches and individuals will be less energized by or concerned about rationalistic, propositional debates and ideologies on the right or the left.

9. A renewed interest in personal spirituality will draw people toward the charismatic, the liturgical, the transcendent and the mysterious in religion.

10. Southern churches, long characterized by the experiential in matters religious, may be well-suited for a movement of renewed spirituality. That is, if they do not succumb to continued doctrinal obscurantism.

April 1997