PC(USA) Losing Members?

[Daniel Knight Sr.]

I have read in a number of places that the Presbyterian church is losing members each year. Several times I have picked up a copy of a magazine called "The Layman" and they seem to attribute it to churches being discontent with the church seemingly becoming more liberal and they leave the denomination to join the Evangelical movement.

It seems to me that this is an overly simplistic view and there has to be more to it than that. I wonder what YOUR thoughts on the subject are?
Dan
Waterford, NY

[Carl P. Spiva]

The real cause of our loss of membership is that we don't know how to share our faith!

Evangelism is the best kept secret in the PCUSA!

Ric Warren started Saddleback Church in Orange County, California, where there were already more churches per capita than anywhere in the U.S. He located some Christians, selling them on planting a new church, taught them how to win souls for Christ, and they brought unsaved people into the church and taught them how to share their faith, etc. and the rest is history!
Get his book, "The Purose Driven Church" and learn the details!

[Paul]

I encourage you to take a look at a video that-kind-of-servanthood">a> I just finished writing and producing --"That Kind of Servanthood Really Changes Lives"

I wrote about it my blog as well -- this is a story about a small Presbyterian Church that was about to close it doors, gaining new members. I think it adresses your statement "it seems to be an overly simplistic view."

To me there is still a bit of mystery left in how God works with us in all of our human activity, in both the losing of and gaining of members, to bring hope and new life -- and this story is particularly interesting to me because it is found in service - servanthood.

Paul

[Paul]

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[Charles Kennedy]

Many people are upset about the gay pastor issue and gay marriage. Some of us are very upset that what the "leadership" of the Church is presenting as just and righteous actions which are perceived by many as sinful. It is the classic dispute between those who tend to see the world as black and white and those are more comfortable dealing with life in more abstract or nuanced ways. Each side sees the "other" side as sinful. And therein lies the problem we are taking sides and seeing the other instead of seeing us.

Those on either end of the dispute very much want those at the other end out of the Church.