Mainline Protestants in Decline

Mainline Protestants make up shrinking number of U.S. adults

Pew Research has just released research on the decline of Mainline Churches. According to the research the decline is steep. There are 5 million fewer adults going to mainline churches since 2007.

Why?

Mainline churches are getting older. Is it age appeal? the median age for mainline churches is 52, and according to the research Millennials are the leading factor in the group called "nones" (no affiliation). Immigrants are also adding numbers to the ranks of unaffiliated. According to Pew Research, "Our 2014 Religious Landscape Study, a follow-up to the center’s first Religious Landscape Study in 2007, found that one-in-five immigrants said they did not belong to any religion – an increase of 4 percentage points since 2007, when 16% said they did not associate with any faith tradition." 
                                            

Root Causes

These factors don't really get at the 'why.' Once the why is known answers can be found as to how to get people back in the pews in mainline churches. 

Steve McSwain is Speaker, Author, Counselor to Congregations, Ambassador to the Council on the Parliament for the World's Religions, and Spiritual Teacher. He wrote a three part article for the Huffington Post in 2013 on why nobody wants to go to church anymore. In Part One McSwain came up with seven reasons. Some are external forces and some are internal forces. Internal forces include the Leadership Crisis, exclusion based on race, culture or sexual orientation, and hypocrisy. External forces include competition, religious pluralism, changing demographics and technology. Some of the external forces can be used to the advantage of the Mainline Churches like adapting new technologies to reach younger demographics, and embracing diversity. Internal problems can be corrected by making sure our doors are really open to all.

In Part Two McSwain says change is happening...no matter what...the Mainline Church must embrace change and diversity within our churches. He says we need to stop applying labels to people. "Stop Labeling "Nones" and the "Religiously Unaffiliated" as Unfaithful, or Sub-par Christians or, worse, Not Christians at All."  Finally, We should make friends with people who we disagree with.

In Part Three McSwain lists the final six ways the mainline can get people back in the pews. They include not using the bible and worship to promote prejudice and political agenda. End the war on science, biology and psychology. Be who you are. McSwain believes a contemporary service in a traditional setting will not work.  It is time to revise Christian theology,  The gatekeepers of theological and doctrinal thought must lead the way, believing the current crisis is a call to reexamine the Christian story.

Finally McSwain says, "Know that the Church's decline could never mean the death of Christ." If you believe the last point...it will never be too late.

Focus on The Core

Something we did in public radio was to understand the values of the audience that valued our content above all others. We focused our resources on our core audience. We grew. Today public radio has 30 million listeners. We were true to our intended audience. Because we  understood those values and stopped trying to be all things to all people we grew. McSwain got it right when he encouraged the Mainliners...liberal Christians...to be true to themselves. 

The Autism Therapy That Works For Us: Time | Cognoscenti

The Autism Therapy That Works For Us: Time | Cognoscenti
Susan Senator's thoughtful blog about how people on the spectrum are lifelong learners struck me. She writes about her son who was diagnosed at age three...too late for early intervention. It has been reported recently that children can be diagnosed early...as early as two months.

Senator writes about her search for therapies. It's something most of parents of an autistic child go through. Senator writes about her son's behavior therapy but, nothing had the dramatic results (read cure) that so many hope for.

The breakthrough for her son was when he turned 17 and he suddenly wanted friends. The experience coincided with his participation in Special Olympics. For our son the transition seemed to happen over the period of a few months. He started attending the Extended Day Treatment Program at FOCUS Center for Autism.  That was quickly followed by  Special Olympics, Unified Sports, Unified Theater, and the post high school program in our town that taught him life and social skills.

Above all, for both boys, they matured. They were ready. As Senator points out...their experiences cry out for services for adults on the spectrum. Services should not end at age 18 or 21.

You can read the entire blog at Cognoscenti...featured on the website of public radio station WBUR.

FOCUS Appeal Tells a Story

The approach is something new for The FOCUS Center for Autism. For this Fall's appeal we're telling a story about a positive outcome. Storytelling is something we did extensively in public radio. Admittedly we didn't do it enough in fundraising. But, I'm hopeful the appeal will reach or donors. Look it over. Let me know what you think.

WITH YOUR HELP, FOCUS MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

Alison is a vivacious twelve-year-old with Autism who, before FOCUS, struggled both academically and socially. Alison represents a unique aspect of Autism as it affects boys four times more than girls. She has the same needs as her male counterparts on the Spectrum, but her sweet disposition caused some adults to overlook her. Many adults described Alison as “cute” and “bright”, and couldn’t believe she could need assistance with academics or social skills. She had teachers who didn’t understand her, and peers that would bully her. Because her needs were not being met, Alison was feeling more and more isolated and depressed. She thought her life didn’t have a purpose.  

Alison has been enrolled in FOCUS’s Extended Day Treatment program for three years. This program has helped her develop and practice the social skills she needs to navigate her world. However, the problems she was having at school still remained. It was then decided that she would attend FOCUS’s Clinical Educational Support Program. This program serves children who are having a difficult experience in their traditional school setting. With low teacher to student ratios, a multimodal approach to academics, and a strong emphasis on social and coping skill development, this program supports the whole child in order to ensure their success.  

Now in her second year, Alison is thriving both academically and socially. She finally has the help she needs, which puts her at ease. She also feels safe and accepted in the FOCUS environment. For the first time in her life, she is making friends! Alison’s experience at FOCUS is so profound that, in appreciation, she raised $215 which she donated to the Clinical Educational Support Program. 

Alison’s story doesn’t end here. She, along with her family, is using her voice to advocate for Autism Awareness in the community. Her family participates in Autism rides, and she is an active participant in FOCUS’s “Autism Spectrum Unplugged” panel. Alison also led the charge to have blue Autism ribbons distributed throughout her hometown. As a result of all her hard work she was honored this year by her State Senator, Jason Welch, during Autism Awareness Day at the State Capitol! 

Alison’s story is just one of the many reasons why YOUR support of FOCUS Center for Autism is so important.

Your donation will make a difference. Your contribution to FOCUS will help us continue to provide the child-centered programming you have come to expect.  

 

Your Support Helps Fund:

·         Our Clinical Educational Support Program

·         Our After School Program

·         Our Parent Support Program

·         Our Education and Mentoring Program

·         Our Scholarship Program

Please consider a gift today! Our unique model of care can change a child’s life. It has changed Alison’s. 

Help FOCUS help children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders achieve their full potential.

“because the creatively wired and socially challenged should not have to go it alone”™

Thank you so much!

Giving Perspective to On-line Numbers

I was looking at the most emailed stories from NPR today. (You can find the list here.) It struck me that the numbers listed are quite small when compared to those who listen to these stories in their cars, at home or on-line. I'm not trying to diminish the importance of sharing the stories but, live broadcasts and streaming still generate a much larger audience. 


According to research figures released by Ben Robins at NPR, In Spring 2011, we see that the total number of persons who tune in each week to an NPR member station holding at or near record-high levels. The weekly audience to NPR Stations* has reached a new high of 34 million listeners each week.  (You can read more here.)


34 million represents radio listening. The figures remain steady. What's the point? Put on-line usage in perspective when you decide how to use your resources. The vast majority of your listeners still use the radio.

*NPR stations are a mix of newsmagazine and music-only stations (which carry the NPR Newscasts).

Ben Robins is the Research Manager for NPR Programming.