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Mainline Churches' Influence on American Civil Rights Movements

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Mainline Churches' Influence on American Civil Rights Movements A Force Overlooked: Mainline Churches’ Influence on American Civil Rights Movements since the Mid-Twentieth Century Clayton Harrington Campbell University Faculty Mentor: Jaclyn Stanke Campbell University ABSTRACT In recent years, Evangelical Protestantism and Christian Fundamentalism have received a great deal of attention concerning their influence and impact on American society and culture over the last fifty years. Because of that, the impact and influence of Mainline Protestantism has frequently been overlooked. This essay examines both Evangelical and Mainline Protestant churches’ reactions and statements to three movements from the mid-twentieth century to the present: the Civil Rights Movement, the Feminist Movement, and the Gay Rights Movement. In doing so, I argue that Mainline Protestant churches have actually had a greater, though more subtle, impact on American society and culture than previously thought. ince Christianity’s beginnings, various one of these Protestant groups, which en- Ssects have existed, all vying for the hearts sured that many English speaking Christians and minds of humanity. While the Roman would embrace Protestantism in some form. Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions Various sects came to America beginning in remain largely homogenous, Protestantism the seventeenth century, especially dissenters has been historically divided. From its of the Anglican Church such as the Puritans very origins it fragmented into various de- and Baptists. During the next century other nominations whose views, while largely groups followed, bringing myriad versions similar, differ on varying matters of doc- of Protestantism as well as Catholicism to trine and dogma. The first evident “split” America, all contentiously practicing side by occurred in 1529 when Martin Luther and side. Ulrich Zwingli, two reformers, were unable It is from this background that two branches to agree on a set of theological issues, thus of Protestantism developed in twentieth cen- creating two separate reformed churches.1 tury America – Mainline and Evangelical. During the remainder of the century, various The sharp divide between the two arose with Protestant groups emerged with opposing the beginnings of Fundamentalism in the late views. The Church of England represented nineteenth century. Evangelical churches 1 R. Dean Peterson, A Concise History of Christianity, 3rd Edition (Belmont, C.A.: Wadsworth, 2007) 204-205. 1 Clayton Harrington embraced Fundamentalism and sought to – the Civil Rights Movement, the Feminist preserve what they considered true Christian Movement, and the Gay Rights Movement – teachings.2 Mainline Protestant churches gen- and examines the involvement and responses erally accepted Liberal Theology, a Christian of Mainline and Evangelical churches. By theology open to modern reason as well as examining the statements and reactions from personal, intellectual, philosophical, and ex- both Mainline and Evangelical Protestants, I istential reflection.3 These Mainline churches demonstrate the lasting and current influence claimed that while their teachings were up- of the Mainline churches in matters of social dated, they were nonetheless true. Moreover, justice and civil rights in America, by work- they argued that Fundamentalism’s emphasis ing within their churches to foster equality on literalism was now archaic. The two sides and by engaging in reform movements out- were also separated by Darwin’s theory of side their churches. evolution, as Mainline churches were more likely to accept evolution than Evangelical Background Information churches. Since the mid-twentieth century, the impact Mainline Protestantism includes most and influence of Evangelical Protestantism Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and on American society and politics have been Episcopalians, as well as other small denom- clearly visible. If one considers Christianity inations such as the United Church of Christ.4 in the United States in the mid-twentieth cen- In his book, The Public Church, Martin Marty tury, one can quickly think of conservative describes the Mainline as having “known names, movements, and political stances: fewer difficulties than have others with the Billy Graham, pro-life movements, and op- public order, but greater problems with being position to gay marriage. But what about the church, with remaining intact as a cen- the Mainline churches? Mainline churches ter of loyalty to Christ.”5 Mainline churches actively participated in movements such have appealed to individuals who embrace as the Social Gospel and the Civil Rights the “priesthood of the believer,” but have Movement. Further, after the success of these weakened the churches’ focus on the Triune movements, the Evangelicals often joined, or God as revealed in Jesus, meaning they have at least consented to, the goals of the move- been less concerned with converting others to ments, revealing the Mainline’s subtle, but Christ. At the beginning of the twentieth cen- clear influence. tury, Mainline Protestants were characterized Evangelical Protestantism represents the by their acceptance or openness to Liberal larger of the two traditions and has received Theology, critical study of the Bible, the the- the majority of attention and credit in shap- ory of evolution, and an emphasis on a social ing recent American society and culture. application of the Gospel.6 However, in the current essay, I argue that According to Paul Rasor, “liberal theology Mainline Protestantism’s influence has not tries to articulate a framework within which only been overlooked, but that its contri- one can be deeply religious and fully mod- bution to American civil rights reforms has ern at the same time.”7 Adolf von Harnack had a greater, though more subtle, impact on was a German Liberal theologian who wrote the development of American society from many works, including What is Christianity? the mid-twentieth century to the present. Characteristic of Liberal Theology, he wrote To do so, this essay addresses three crucial “that the earth in its course stood still; that movements within the twentieth century a she-ass spoke; that a storm was quieted 2 Peterson, A Concise History of Christianity, 328. 4 “Affiliations,” Church Statistics and Religious Affiliations - U.S. 3 Paul Rasor, Faith Without Certainty: Liberal Theology in the Religious Landscape Study - Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, Twenty-First Century (Boston: Skinner House Books, 2005), 1. accessed November 4, 2013, http://religions.pewforum.org/affiliations/; for the division of denominations into Mainline or Evangelical. 5 Martin Marty, The Public Church: Mainline, Evangelical, Catholic (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1981), 3. 6 Peterson, A Concise History of Christianity, 326-328. 7 Paul Rasor, Faith Without Certainty: Liberal Theology in the Twenty- First Century, 1. 2 Explorations |Humanities and Fine Arts by a word, we do not believe, and we shall word “εὐαγγέλιον” or “euangélion,” which never again believe.”8 In other words, mir- translates into English as “Gospel” or “Good acles were denied as impossible and (in the News.”11 The term must be qualified. In areas words of the Enlightenment philosophers) outside the United States, “Evangelical” is of- unreasonable. Liberal Theology sometimes ten used interchangeably with and more often questioned the divinity of Jesus, the accuracy than that of “Protestant,” without any of the of the New Testament Gospels, and elements connotations or meanings that “Evangelical” that seemed to be supernatural, such as the holds within the United States. American physical resurrection of Jesus and his phys- Evangelical denominations include most ical Second Coming. Those who supported Baptists and Nondenominationals, along with Liberal Theology also promoted critical some Lutherans and small portions of other study of the Bible, as with any other work of denominations.12 Marty describes modern literature.9 This involved research and exam- Evangelicals as “[having] less problem with ination as to how the current texts were orig- being the church in the sense of a called out inally written and by whom, how they were and set apart body. But they have had more passed down, and how they may have been difficulties with public consciousness, with edited and redacted. From a liberal perspec- discerning how they are called to serve God tive, evolution was less of a problem because beyond the specialized field of saving souls the Mainline churches tended to view the out of the world.”13 According to Marty, then, Genesis creation narratives as simple stories Evangelicals have succeeded at being a spir- that the ancient Hebrew people told to help itual community, but have been less success- them understand who they were in relation ful outside of their focal mission – “soul-sav- to God. These stories were merely theologi- ing.” Today’s American Evangelicals were cal narratives, not scientific ones. Moreover, heavily influenced by the Fundamentalist it seemed possible that God was the guiding movement of the early twentieth century and force behind evolution, fostering biological this is what helped create the two distinct progression and development.10 sides of Protestantism in America. Through Mainline Protestantism also advocated a the influence of Fundamentalism and cultural social application of the Gospel. The Social conservatism, Evangelicals were character- Gospel movement during the American ized by opposition to Liberal Theology, crit- Progressive Era constituted a reformation
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