The Challenge of Mission in Contemporary Culture “My hope is that the church could once again capture the imagination of this country’s people.” –Rowan Williams Archbishop of Canterbury

A Dramatic Shift

General Belief/Church Attendance 1980 90% said they believed in God (comparable countries: Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Iran) 66% identified as Protestant 24% identified as Roman Catholic 2% Jewish 8% “None of the above” or “other”

General Belief/Church Attendance Present Day 69-80% say they believe in God 18-40% weekly attendance at worship 28-50% rarely or never attend 50% identify as Protestant 22% Roman Catholics 12% other world religions 16% None of the above, includes atheist, agnostic, a-religious, etc.

General Trends 1980-2010 Declines in membership, money, and attendance: Mainline Protestants Roman Catholics Evangelicals – Southern Baptist, Missouri Synod Lutherans, PCA African-American Churches

General Trends 1980-2010 Only significant increase (4%): non-denominational Slight, but statistically insignificant increases: Mormons, Assemblies of God, Church of God Across all the denominations (general trend): Congregations with ASA > 125 are growing Congregations with ASA < 125 are declining

“Faith Mixing” Today (Pew forum) 37% attend one place almost exclusively 35% attend multiple places 28% seldom/never attend 49% Have “had a mystical experience” (1962 - 22%)

“Faith Mixing” among Churchgoers Liturgical Evangelical Charismatic/ Pentecostal Liberal Protestant Movement among the various traditions Means great fluidity of church membership

Youth Attitudes toward “Christian” (Barna, 2007) Outside Inside the Church the Church 91% 80% anti-homosexual 87% 52% judgmental 85% 47% hypocritical 75% 50% too political 72% 32% out of touch with reality 68% 27% boring

Emergence of “Spirituality” Are you spiritual or religious? (Washington Post/Newsweek 2005) 25% Spiritual 55% Religious and spiritual 8% Religious 12% Neither

Associations with “Religious” and “Spirituality” • Organized • Systematized • Institution/buildings • Doctrine/dogma • Budgets • Authority • Liturgy Spiritual • Experience of God • Nature • Centering Prayer • Labyrinth • Transcendence • Awe/Wonder • Mysticism • Jesus • Yoga • Liturgy • Eucharist • “Eating and Gathering”

Trends in Church and Culture Denominational Loyalty  Religious Shopping Larger Church Identity  Congregational Identity Supply Driven  Need Driven Clergy Only  Clergy and Laity Faith Traditions  Spiritual Realities Trust  Suspicion Institutional Authority  Personal Authority Foreign Mission  Local Mission Reasonable Spirituality  Mystical & Experiential

Characteristics of a Missionary Community • Sense of being led – we exist for a reason • Awareness of uniqueness • Training, nurturing, educating, forming – for purpose of mission • Development of supportive community of accountability • Sympathetic study and appreciation of mission field • Fearless engagement with the world