On Sunday, September 17 and 24, LPC Pastor Jim Butler will lead presentations on the evolving nature of the church as an institution. It began as small groups of Jesus’ mostly Jewish followers, centered in the Jerusalem Temple, who worshipped in local synagogues and also met for prayer, study and fellowship in homes. Three centuries later, the imperial church emerged, centered in Rome, which eventually fractured into three major categories — Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and thousands of Protestant traditions. North American Christians in all three categories are wondering, sometimes in fear and trembling, what is happening to the church/denomination/tradition to which I belong? What is next for my local church, our denomination and Christianity as a whole? Are we headed toward a majority atheistic or agnostic culture in which institutional religion passes away? Will only mega churches and evangelicals survive?
Come and get a bigger perspective on these issues. Hear the wisdom of astute observers of these trends in North American churches and rekindle hope, not in sustaining ineffective institutions, but in resurrection of life in the Spirit within gathered communities.