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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I wonder what the future holds for the UMC.  If they go the route of Episcopal churches, then it will be a slow death.  Is liberalism the death of many mainline Protestant churches?  I see so many beautiful and historical churches with empty seats.  It seems like many mainline Christian denominations are loosing membership besides their converts in Africa and in Asia.   However, mega conservative churches  and  prosperity preaching churches are growing like weeds all over the country.

I began witnessing the division of the UMC 22 years ago.  I am just surprised that it took this long for a schism to occur.     [/quote]

I think it will follow the trend of the divided Presbyterians — the conservative PCA is thriving while the liberal PCUSA is losing members.  [/quote]

I am in a liberal Presbyterian church that is absolutely thriving.

[/quote]

I assume you’re in this area?  This super-liberal area is not representative.[/quote]

I am now in the Midwest, actually. [/quote]

Where, exactly?  You know you’re not representative.[/quote]

In a state that went for Donald Trump. I actually think my church's model of being very inclusive is the exact model to bring people back to church. People are seeking us out who live an hour away. The model is relentlessly positive and thoughtful. I feel every week like I've gone to a great college lecture on the history of Christianity. Gay families are welcomed wholeheartedly, as are foster families and families with kids with all kinds of special needs, from mild to severe. Their are unique special needs worship services that are shorter and more interactive for the group homes in our area.

Our church is almost 200 years old, and so there's a lot of old guard Presbyterians there.  A few left when the session decided to be purposely inclusive (the churches are run by its members, not the Pastor) but more came. So you'll see in our pews a lot of white haired folks sitting next to a gay family with biracial foster children and another couple with the son on the ASD spectrum who was never welcomed at other churches because he was too "noisy."

I think this is what Jesus would have wanted. [/quote]
But there are deep blue areas in states that voted for Donald Trump. Think Madison, WI or Austin or Asheville or Broward Co FL or wherever. [/quote]

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