The State of Big Religion

Here's an interesting analysis of the 100 largest churches in the United States, which might give some kind of insight into the state of Christianity in America today.

None of them welcome LGBT folks as full and equal members.  Ninety-three of them are led by white pastors.  One has a female pastor, though she serves as "co-pastor" with her husband.

Much as it concerned me that Donald Trump's support might give people the wrong ideas about the sort of persona they should adopt to enjoy political success, I'm somewhat concerned that the actions of these churches might give other churches the wrong idea about what kind of public face they should present in order to "grow".  (Others will see this sort of public face as evidence of God's tacit approval.)

It is the case that exclusion and tribal homogeneity can produce "growth".  Unfortunately, I'm inclined to believe that using these tactics is not the sort of thing a group can do and still rightly call itself "church".

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