Below are a few recent headlines offering insight on how well mainline liberal churches are faring as they try to hold memberships (and finances) together by dismantling their theology.

April 25, 2025 – The Evangelical Lutheran (if that isn’t an oxymoron) Church in America has decided not to remove conscience protections for members who are against same sex marriage. What that means is that members who oppose same-sex marriages can continue to do so and not be removed from the denomination. This decision stems from a 2022 consideration to revise their formal position on marriage. “According to Rev. Willer, director for ELCA Theological Ethics, proposed alterations to the 2009 document will include several phrase changes in keeping with overall social changes since the document was adopted (in 2009). For example, while references to ‘husband and wife’ were replaced with ‘both spouses’ or ‘the couple,’ Willer told CP via email that the original meaning of the sentences remained as it was in 2009.” (details here)

May 5, 2025 – The Finland Lutheran Church of 3.6 million members are voting this week on a proposal to redefine marriage to “permitting priests to also perform marriages of same-sex couples if they wish.” (details here)

March 25, 2025 – “The United Methodist Church, for example, lost a quarter of its U.S. congregations amid debates over the ordination and marriage of LGBT individuals. Its denominational workforce has shrunk by over a third since 2016.” (details here)

May 7, 2025 – “The United Methodist Church leadership has clarified that a recent ruling from its top court allowing pastors to determine if they can officiate same-sex weddings dispute objections from church trustees does not overrule regional bans on the unions. The United Methodist Judicial Council ruled last month that church trustees could not prohibit a pastor from performing a same-sex wedding ceremony.” (details here)

March 25, 2025 – The Episcopal Church is the most recent to announce substantial cuts to its national staff, following years of declining membership and donations. (details here)

May 1, 2025 – Presbyterian USA World Mission Closes, laying off their missionaries. Founded in 1837, this closure, “represents the latest consequence of declining giving and shifting stances around overseas evangelism in the mainline denomination.” (details here)

March 2, 2025 – “Once the backbone of American Christianity, ‘mainline’ denominations have slipped to just 11% of U.S. Christians, whereas the Evangelical Protestant continues to grow and now represents 23%.” (details here)