Reforming the Church’s Social and Political Witness Winter 2018 Cambodian Anglicans Chart a New Path page 8 ALSO INSIDE: ► Trashing Megachurches page 3 ► What’s Happened Since a Texas Baptist Church Affirmed Homosexuality? page 10 ► Why I’m Glad Joshua Harris Is Rethinking His Dating Advice page 13 ► You Might Have a Case of Mainline Myopia If... page 14 ► Dishonor Roll: State Department Lists Countries of Particular Concern page 15 FROM THE PRESIDENT Trashing Megachurches VOLUME 37 NUMBER 1 rashing megachurches is often popular. According to the standard stereotype, they’re big exurban factories resembling car deal- The Khmer-language congregation at the Anglican Church of Christ Our Peace mixes T erships with giant American flags flapping over after services on the morning of October 22, 2017, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Photo THE INSTITUTE ON enormous parking lots, catering to rich, socially Credit: Jeff Walton / IRD). See story on pages 8–9. RELIGION & DEMOCRACY irresponsible SUV-driving Sunbelt Republicans 1023 15th Street NW, Suite 601 Washington, DC 20005 anxious to hear superficial, self-serving health Phone: 202.682.4131 and wealth sermons from huckster preachers in Fax: 202.682.4136 flashy suits. FEATURES (Photo Credit: Saddleback Church/Facebook) Web: www.TheIRD.org A recent column by Jonathan Merritt of Reli- 10 EVANGELICAL: E-mail: [email protected] gion News Service cites a liberal advocacy group What’s Happened Since report asserting that, of the 100 largest congregations in America, are active worshipers. One survey says the average age of a mega- a Texas Baptist Church PRESIDENT none are LGBTQ affirming, over 90 percent have white pastors, church worshiper is 40. For Mainline Protestants it’s close to 60. Affirmed Homosexuality? Mark D. Tooley and only one has a female pastor. Merritt calls this report “explo- Liberal Mainliners like to boast of LGBTQ inclusion. But I by Chelsen Vicari sive” without directly condemning the churches. But many on strongly conjecture the average megachurch, even though not EDITORIAL social media have predictably issued their disapproving tut-tuts. affirming LGBTQ causes, still by virtue of its size and variety Jeffrey Walton The originating advocacy group wants to shame these churches. of programs has more LGBTQ people than the average mostly Executive Editor, 12 UNITED METHODIST: Megachurches of course aren’t generated, subsidized or reg- empty liberal church proudly waving rainbow flags to little effect. David Watson: United Communications Manager ulated by government fiat or any centralized authority. They’re As to female clergy, my own United Methodist denomination Methodist Pro-Life Witness STAFF big because they’re popular, typically founded by entrepreneurial to which I’m committed has ordained women since the 1950s. All Joseph Rossell pastors who are very talented at presenting winsome messages the liberal Mainline denominations ordain women. But the vast by Mark Tooley Research Analyst that broadly appeal. They are almost always Evangelical and bulk of global Christianity doesn’t, including of course Catholi- 15 RELIGIOUS LIBerTY: theologically more traditional. cism, Orthodoxy, and most of global Protestantism. Much of Dishonor Roll: State Faith J. H. McDonnell There are thousands of churches in America with liberal global Pentecostalism does though women pastors are a small Department Lists Director of Religious Liberty Programs clergy. They could become megachurches if their messages and minority. Almost no other major global religions have female Countries of Particular appeal were compelling to more people. But they aren’t. Grow- clerics, such as Islam, Hinduism, etc. Although I’m happy in my Concern John Lomperis ing religion, Christian or otherwise, in America or globally, now tradition, I’m loathe to condemn as intrinsically bigoted the vast UMAction Director by Faith J. H. McDonnell and across history, is almost always in some sense traditionalist. majority with different teachings. If megachurches are chauvinis- Rick J. Plasterer It challenges and demands with cohesive beliefs and practices. tic and bigoted why do they more successfully attract women and PROGRAMS Staff Writer Where are the growing liberal churches, mosques, and temples non-whites than the ostensibly more enlightened liberal churches? around the world? They exist, if at all, in the minds of some West- I’ve never desired to worship at a megachurch. They seem ern theologians and sociologists. More permissive and theologi- too choreographed and overwhelming and often too dependent Church News. 4 Chelsen Vicari Evangelical Action Director cally lax religion may sound appealing but it rarely attracts a sus- on the pastor’s personality for my taste. Some of the stereotypes tained crowd, anywhere. (No, big crowds don’t equal theological about them have grains of truth! I prefer smaller, more tradi- International Briefs. .6 Marc LiVecche truth, but chronically dying congregations are hardly validating tional churches. But megachurches can reach many more with Scholar on Christian Ethics, spirituality.) the Gospel and provide a variety of ministries that my preferred War and Peace Anglican This latest slam against megachurches implies they’re racial- churches cannot and likely never will. ly exclusive because over 90 percent of pastors are white. Most So thank you, megachurches. For some of us you’re just too 8 Cambodian Anglicans Chart a New Path. Jeffrey Walton Fiona McDonnell megachurches have originated in mostly white suburbs and glitzy. But please ignore often peevish critics, and keep feeding many Office Manager exurbs, but their congregations are more diverse than commonly spiritually famished souls who otherwise might go hungry. Evangelical imagined. A 2015 survey found that 10 percent of megachurches 13 Why I’m Glad Joshua Harris Is Rethinking His reported no racial majority, while 37 percent of megachurches reported between 20 percent and 49 percent minority presence Dating Advice. Chelsen Vicari Lay Pastor Nass Sowannia leads neighborhood children in an activity in their majority white congregations. Megachurches also report United Methodist at Rokakos Church, a rural preaching that about 20 percent of their worshipers are between ages 18–34. station outside of Phnom Penh, Compare those stats with “inclusive” liberal Mainline Prot- 14 You Might Have Mainline Myopia If.... John Lomperis Cambodia, on October 23, 2017. estant denominations, whose memberships are 88 percent to 96 (Photo Credit: Jeff Walton / IRD). percent white, excepting the American Baptist denomination, Mark D. Tooley is the President of the Institute on Religion and Democracy IRD Diary the least liberal among the seven, which is 73 percent white. Their 16 Why I Left a Non-Denominational Church for the SBC. Brady Weller memberships are also much older. One survey says only 12 percent of Episcopal Church members are millennials. Likely far fewer 2 FAITH & FREEDOM | Winter 2018 Winter 2018 | FAITH & FREEDOM 3 CHURCH NEWS CHURCH NEWS Moody Bible Institute in Turmoil and “professors who deny the inerrancy DC Episcopalians Eschew of Scripture.” Following Allegations Despite the sudden executive resigna- Gendered Pronouns for God tions, a statement from Fairfax, Thornton, and Interim Provost John Jelinek on Jan- uary 23 insisted “there is no corruption, or any illegal and unethical activity taking llegations of questionable spend- of the institute’s financial woes. Roys place at Moody” and “Moody is steadfast piscopal Church dioceses are pass- homophobia and transphobia ing practices and wavering Bibli- confronted MBI Board Chair Randy in our wholehearted commitment to the ing resolutions in the lead-up to give rise to discrimination” and Acal orthodoxy have contributed to Fairfax and was abruptly dismissed historic, orthodox doctrines of the faith Etheir church-wide General Conven- “fixed boundaries of gender a sudden change of leadership at Chica- from her show seemingly as a result of and to the inspiration and inerrancy of tion this July. These measures confirm identity are being challenged go’s Moody Bible Institute (MBI). Presi- her reports. She was notified of her ter- the Word of God.” the denomination is headed in a further and churches need to respond.” dent J. Paul Nyquist and Chief Operating mination in an email from Greg Thorn- Roys doubled down on her evidence, politicized and progressive direction. The rationale for “On Officer Steve Mogck both resigned Janu- ton, MBI senior vice president of media, which she maintains confirms allega- It took less than an hour for Diocese the Gendered Language for ary 10 and Provost Dr. Junias Venugopal and was told only that “after consulting tions of questionable financial practices of Washington convention delegates to God” related to Book of Com- retired, citing MBI’s need for “a new sea- with the Executive Committee of the and theological drift away from ortho- approve legislation “On Becoming a Sanc- mon Prayer revisions that will son of leadership.” Moody Board, leadership is terminating doxy. Roys argued, “[A]ll is not well, and tuary Diocese: Offering Sacred Welcome potentially be considered by the Hints of the college’s financial prob- your employment.” According to Roys, Moody’s latest statement has only further to Immigrants,” “On Inclusion of Trans- national church: lems were first visible when Christianity no reason was given. gender People,” and “On the Gendered muddied the waters.” “…utilize expansive lan- Today’s Kate Shelnutt reported MBI was Allegations of an unorthodox