Mainline Protestant churches have long been an important force for theological liberalism in Christianity - but for how much longer? This status may not last because conservative evangelicals are hard at work within these churches to turn them around and make them more orthodox, more evangelical, and perhaps even more fundamentalist.

It’s not as if they have taken over these churches, but their influence is growing daily — they don’t intend to split off from the main denominations even as they cooperate with kindred spirits in other liberal churches. According to a story in Christianity Today:

Renewal organizations work from within their denominations, calling for reform. Their goal is neither schism nor takeover, but to mobilize evangelicals in the pews to change their churches’ mission, polity, discipline, theological education, worship and educational ministries. ...Few mainline liberals understand that behind the rise of renewal activity is a genuine grassroots movement. Instead it is more comforting to imagine that a few wealthy conservative organizations - a conspiracy of outside agitators - have stirred up dissent.

Evangelical control of Mainline Protestant denominations may not occur in this decade, but it is likely to happen — and will liberal, progressive Christianity survive as an influential force in American society? Perhaps we should ask if it even should. In many ways, mainline Protestant Christianity appears to have become tired, worn, and drained of spirit. Just what does it have left to offer American society? It wouldn’t be in so much trouble if conservative evangelicalism weren’t able to offer so much more.

Liberal, progressive Christianity is in trouble and it’s not clear that liberal Christians have any means for changing things around. It’s not clear that they have a vision to offer or an agenda to follow. They have ideas, sure, but more than good ideas is needed.

 

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