New England Perspectives
A regularly updated collection of articles written by New England leaders and thinkers. Looking for news articles? Click here.
The Case for Denominations
Denominations as a whole are in decline, and the number of non-denominational churches is increasing, “13 percent of total American adults now identify as non-denominational. That is more than all mainline denominations combined” (Thom Rainer). Making a case for denominations today is like canoeing the Mighty Mississippi... upstream. However, it might be worth the effort to at least make the case.
The Upcoming Pastor Shortage (And What Can Be Done)
By now, you have probably heard about the upcoming crisis of pastoral vacancies. The average age of pastors has skyrocketed, in statistical terms, in a drastically short time. According to an extensive Faith Communities Today (FACT) survey, “In the last two decades the median age of the religious leader rose from 50 in 2000 to 57 in 2020.” This is a trajectory that has been trackable for some time. While many factors contribute to this, the bottom line is younger clergy are not replacing aging and retiring clergy.