Since its beginning, America has been home to a variety of Christian denominations. In the early days of American history, various Catholic and Protestant sects developed alliances and debated about theological disagreements.
Over the years, more and more denominations have arisen in American society. Today, there are hundreds of different Christian groups in America alone.
Having so many different denominations makes things complicated. On one hand, this makes it harder to evaluate each one and find the one that honors God the most, to the best of your understanding. On the other hand, this allows believers to have many different choices. Choosing wisely means we really have to study the Bible and pray to seek God’s will. That’s hardly a bad thing!
One denomination that’s been around since America’s infancy is the Episcopal Church. In fact, it was founded in 1789 in Philadelphia. Many of America’s historically influential and wealthy families have been Episcopalian. Nearly half of all US presidents have been either Episcopalian or Presbyterian.
However, it’s no secret that membership in the Episcopalian Church has been on a steady decline for a long time. Despite some periods of stability, membership and Sunday attendance have been dropping since 2011. Whether you are a member of the Episcopalian Church, or you identify with a different denomination, it’s worthwhile to examine this phenomenon.
Reasons why members leave a denomination are often complicated and varied. However, there are a few key reasons that many ex-members give for leaving the Episcopalian Church. Here are some of the top items on the list.
Unclear Theology
Perhaps you have been attending a church that belongs to one of the larger Christian denominations. If so, much of what you hear about God in an Episcopalian worship service would sound familiar. Members repeat the Lord’s Prayer, pray for people who are sick, affirm the Nicene Creed, and take part in baptism and communion.
However, Episcopalian leadership has been experiencing an identity problem for some time now. Some Episcopalian leaders interpret the Bible more plainly, and they still hold to major Christian doctrines such as atonement, the virgin birth of Christ, and the incarnation.
However, other Episcopalian leaders have been known to dismiss major doctrines. Church leaders have been unable to agree on basic items of the Christian faith. One such item of disagreement was the idea that Jesus is God, and belief in Jesus is the only way a person can be saved.
Episcopalian churches tend to skirt matters of theological debate. It is sometimes uncomfortable to address doctrinal issues head on. Thus, many Episcopalian church leaders opt to focus only on noncontroversial topics during worship services.
Without a statement and vision of who God is and what Christianity is all about, things get confusing. It’s difficult for followers to know what the Episcopalian denomination stands for. Since the church’s identity is often uncertain, many members leave for denominations with more clear-cut statements of belief.
Liturgical Worship
To someone who’s never attended a liturgical service, a Sunday at an Episcopalian church can feel pretty unfamiliar. Church music is often older than traditional Christian hymns, though many Episcopalian churches also add in some newer songs. The musical style is often from distant eras, and sometimes includes medieval plainsongs and chants.
The sermon in an Episcopalian service tends to be fairly short–often around 10 to 15 minutes. The rest of the time is spent singing, reciting prayers and Bible passages together, and taking part in a long communion ceremony. The Episcopalian church follows an elaborate calendar. There are often specific readings and passages prescribed for certain days. When you attend an Episcopalian service, you will really need to hold onto the handout or bulletin you receive on your way in. Most of your time will be spent reading from it.
Some people really appreciate the dignity and beauty of a liturgical service. Many Episcopal congregations worship in historic buildings, and they often include stained glass and interesting architecture. However, there’s nothing spontaneous about an Episcopalian service. Jesus warns against meaningless repetition in our worship. Many ex-Episcopalians have begun to find the church’s group readings unfulfilling. People often leave the church to seek a place where they can really connect with other believers and speak naturally about their faith.
Problems With Relevance
Elderly believers are a vital, precious resource in any local church. A church with elderly members has more stability and more wisdom than a church with just young people. However, young people are also important for a church’s well-being.
There can be many reasons why a church could have many older members and not many younger ones. As our culture becomes increasingly secular, many young people just aren’t interested in worship, no matter how relevant it is to their lives. A church should never change essential aspects of its doctrine just to attract younger members.
However, when it comes to the Episcopal Church, younger members are especially struggling to find it relevant. They often say that it just doesn’t relate to their problems and their needs. Episcopal churches don’t tend to focus on evangelism and outreach as much as other denominations do. This means it’s harder for them to attract new members. When visitors do come to an Episcopalian service, it’s often so formal and overwhelming that they don’t come back.
The Episcopal church has attempted to stay relevant by changing key doctrinal positions to reflect recent cultural shifts. However, this hasn’t helped to attract younger crowds.
What Can We Learn?
There’s a lot to learn from the decline of the Episcopalian Church. People today are seeking genuine connection to God and to one another. Outreach and evangelism is still important today. Churches should clearly proclaim the truths they believe in. But when non-doctrinal aspects of their church culture are driving people away, it might be time to prayerfully consider some updates.
At Harmony Baptist Church in Galesburg, IL, we like to keep church simple and focus on the important things: learning about God and fellowshipping with each other. Join us this Sunday for worship. Visit our ‘Contact‘ page for details!
