The Comeback of Mainline Churches

June 10, 2005 by

A three-year study on mainline congregations that’s scheduled to end in 2006 is showing a surprising resurgence in certain mainline congregations.

“Most people think mainline Protestant churches are dead,” says Diana Butler Bass, a senior researcher at Virginia Theological Seminary and director of the Project on Congregations of Intentional Practice. “[There’s] a new kind of mainline congregation developing in the United States that’s moderate to liberal theologically, taking traditional Christian practices seriously, and is experiencing an unnoticed vitality.”

These are midsize congregations, usually with 200 to 500 members, they usually don’t have famous pastors, and they’re attracting younger adults in their 20s and 30s as well as older people in their 70s and 80s. These congregations might make up 6-7% of the mainline churches nationwide.

Bass describes these as intentional churches, often incorporating practices from Christian tradition, including hospitality and testimonies. Many of the churches are turning to more spiritual discernment practices as they seek to figure out what they should do, as opposed to the business mentality that has driven many mainline congregations in the past.

The bottom line is that there is hope for declining mainline churches: “I think it’s very suggestive of what you can do when you use your imagination and you allow a congregation to be creative,” says Bass. “It offers a potential pattern that mainline congregations can embark on that could spark new life.” (link via CT’s weblog)

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Kevin D. Hendricks


When Kevin isn't busy as the editor of Church Marketing Sucks, he runs his own writing and editing company, Monkey Outta Nowhere. Kevin has been blogging since 1998, runs the hyperlocal site West St. Paul Reader, and has published several books, including 137 Books in One Year: How to Fall in Love With Reading, The Stephanies and all of our church communication books.
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7 Responses to “The Comeback of Mainline Churches”

  • Clif Guy
    June 10, 2005

    Thanks for posting this. I hadn’t seen the article. I too have noticed a few medium-sized mainline churches that are making a comeback. Is it really a trend?


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  • orangejack
    June 10, 2005

    I’m not too suprised. This stuff seems to be cyclical. Perceived authenticity is often on the other side of the fense. My theory is many left mainline becuase “community” and “bible” churches were “better” or more authentic. Now they are mainline and back we go. A type Christians go where they can lead while everyone follows. Once more come, the A type go where they can lead again and the group follows. Round and round.


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  • Mean Dean
    June 11, 2005

    I’d need to see more metrics before buying into this assertion. Too many churches I see today seek to be different like everyone else – that is they all want to be like Warren.


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  • Todd
    June 13, 2005

    Isn’t today’s Mainline, yesterday’s community church? It seems that mainline is simply the “average” of whatever’s currently offered.


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  • Jordan Stratford+
    June 13, 2005

    I find such things encouraging – honestly I think if your home church is greater than your high school grad class, you should start shopping around.
    It is no doubt my personal failing that I have never found any real spirit in a Church of 2,000+ requiring big screen tv’s to see the Priest.


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  • Todd
    June 15, 2005

    I just had another thought. Does mainline=lukewarm?


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  • kevin
    June 16, 2005

    Todd, I’m not sure I’m getting either of your comments. From what I know “mainline” refers to the main denominational branches: Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal etc. (though I could be wrong on exactly which, but you get the idea). I don’t think it’d be fair to say all those denominations are by default “lukewarm” or simply an average of what else is out there. If anything, most mainline churches are more liberal than other churches.


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