Economic recession–Evangelical boom?
The Times’ Paul Vitello had an interesting piece yesterday on how churches are seeing a surge in attendance as the economy tanks. But it is mainly the “enthusiastic” denominations of Evangelicalism and Pentecostalism that are doing well. Even Jehovah’s Witnesses are doing more door-knocking because out-of-work folks are at home:
A recent spot check of some large Roman Catholic parishes and mainline Protestant churches around the nation indicated attendance increases there, too. But they were nowhere near as striking as those reported by congregations describing themselves as evangelical, a term generally applied to churches that stress the literal authority of Scripture and the importance of personal conversion, or being “born again.”
Part of the evangelicals’ new excitement is rooted in a communal belief that the big Christian revivals of the 19th century, known as the second and third Great Awakenings, were touched off by economic panics. Historians of religion do not buy it, but the notion “has always lived in the lore of evangelism,” said Tony Carnes, a sociologist who studies religion.
A study last year may lend some credence to the legend. In “Praying for Recession: The Business Cycle and Protestant Religiosity in the United States,” David Beckworth, an assistant professor of economics at Texas State University, looked at long-established trend lines showing the growth of evangelical congregations and the decline of mainline churches and found a more telling detail: During each recession cycle between 1968 and 2004, the rate of growth in evangelical churches jumped by 50 percent. By comparison, mainline Protestant churches continued their decline during recessions, though a bit more slowly.
The little-noticed study began receiving attention from some preachers in September, when the stock market began its free fall. With the swelling attendance they were seeing, and a sense that worldwide calamities come along only once in an evangelist’s lifetime, the study has encouraged some to think big.
Alas, the Protestant ethic–if that’s what it is–bites us lazy papists again. Or has it? The Boston Globe reports (hat tip to First Things) that sales of communion wafers are up, though not quite as much as after 9/11. Then again, the little holiday known as Christmas may have something to do with that…
I was surfing the ‘net and came upon another exegesis of this article. It’s in “Intentional Disciples” and it’s apparently OUR fault that we haven’t taken this opportunity to advance the faith. Here are some of the comments made by SherryW on the article:
“The article includes several stories of Catholics who have lost jobs being invited by friends to local evangelical Churches who are addressing the situation directly. In fact, all the stories of spiritually seeking people are of Catholic turning to evangelicals.”
Well, since the article only cited a couple, I doubt if ALL seekers are going evangelical.
“New York is not an evangelical hotbed. It is a heavily Catholic area. That’s why those who are coming to evangelical congregations for the first time and were interviewed in this article are Catholic. The obvious question is “Why aren’t they turning to their own parishes?”
The article was on evangelicals, not Catholics. And it didn’t provide evidence pro or con that parishioners are not going directly to their own parishes.
“Because Catholics don’t ask one another about their lived relationship with God and we don’t tell one another the basic kerygma and we don’t challenge one another to follow Jesus.
When disaster or pain or change shakes our communities and baptized men and women – and both “inactive” and “active” hover on the edge of a new spiritual openness – who is going to be ready and waiting and actively reaching out? Who will ask and listen and talk to them about Christ and walk with them as the tentatively explore the possibility of a whole new kind of relationship with God?
Evangelicals recognize the spiritual significance of this moment. Do we?”
Of course, bad times cause people to reassess their values, etc. But as for evangelicals recognizing the spiritual significance of the moment – that’s really questionable. They’re trying for another Great Awakening.
I’d also love to know how questioning each other about Jesus, as evangelicals purportedly do, would necessarily advance the conversation on the economic downturn. That would seem to be a function of taking Catholic theology seriously, not sitting with your friends and talking about Jesus.
I find this interpretation seriously flawed theologically for obvious reasons. It goes against Pope Benedict’s outline of Catholic charity in Deus caritas est: “Charity, furthermore, cannot be used as a means of engaging in what is nowadays considered proselytism. Love is free; it is not practised as a way of achieving other ends” (DCE 31c). Part of the reason evangelicals and pentecostals are not universally loved is their constant proselytization in the context of a charity that should be freely given to all, no matter their faith.
From the article:
“In a cascading financial crisis, he said, a[n Evangelical] pastor can discard a sermon prescribed by the liturgical calendar and directly address the anxiety in the air. “I know a lot of you are feeling pain today,” he said, as if speaking from the pulpit. “And we’re going to do something about that.” ”
There may be something to that. Preaching that is unaware of what is going on in people’s lives is not going to be very effective preaching. Catholic preachers can’t just jettison the liturgical calendar, but neither can they ignore problems in real life. The art of finding connections between the two is one that needs constant cultivation (at least in my experience).
Another quote from the article:
“Mr. Tomlinson and his staff in Manhasset and at a satellite church in nearby Syosset have recently discussed hiring an executive pastor to take over administrative work, so they can spend more time pastoring. ”
I think this probably gets closer to the heart of the Catholic challenge. Catholic pastors and staff probably aren’t as outwardly focused as they would like to be. Do parish ministers and employees think of themselves as evangelists? It could be a question worth asking.
A lot of the evangeli-costal mega churches promise earthly prosperity in exchange for tithing and church-going. And, despite my liturgical snobbery about their services, I have to admit that some of those churches do return their riches to their congregations in the form of free gyms, meals for the elderly, special collections for those with medical bills, day care centers and the like.
All of this activity takes ministers, deacons and volunteers who are energetic and willing to make that vision come true.
I wonder to what extent the age of our priests and active parishioners impedes Catholic social action in my neck of the woods. The local parish here has a biweekly blood pressure clinic and an over-60s group that visits one of the Indian casinos every couple of months.
The kids in the confirmation class are required to perform a certain number of community service hours (just as if they’d been convicted of shoplifting!), and they decided to rake yards for elderly people around town this fall. One fellow gave the kids $50, and I think it was telling that the CCD ladies were stymied about what to do with the donation.
A parish that doesn’t know where a $50 donation might ease someone’s burden should be ashamed.
“….Love is free; it is not practised as a way of achieving other ends”
There is very little free about the Catholic system of oligarchy. Bishops and pastors are chosen mainly on obedience and loyalty. Generosity of spirit, spiritual largess are not high on the requirement bar. Father knows best, the parish council is disbanded if it exerts itself, and the Cardinal’s Appeal is still the most dramatic, passion filled time of the year.
To boot most of the pastors are people who have not struggled to make a living or have little appreciation of it. It is a church whose message is we have the seven sacraments which only we can confect. Behave yourself according to our rules and we will let you in. Loyalty is more important than goodness.
The irony is that where there is a shortage of priests many parishes are flourishing. And enlightened people know they do not need a “magician” to invite Jesus to the table. Where the hierarchical system is in place there is a massive need for reform.
Right on target, as usual, Bill. That quotation wasn’t about the hierarchy or your problems with it.
Steven,
You were writing about conversion and postulating how superior you are to the evangelicals. I simply pointed out that the author of the quotation practices very little freedom. Now your statement: “Part of the reason evangelicals and pentecostals are not universally loved is their constant proselytization in the context of a charity that should be freely given to all, no matter their faith.”, is really startling and begs a lot of questions.
Who would you say is universally loved?
Evangelicals might have their shortcomings. I find it difficult to see whether you pointed any of them out other than being merely dismissive as you were of my comments.
“Catholic preachers can’t just jettison the liturgical calendar,—- ”
If that is the case, then how do all of these priests, bishops, et al get off yammering about abortion and same-sex marriage when they do?