Churches Come Tumbling Down
The Globe and Mail had an interesting essay on the death spiral of Christian churches in Canada. You can find it here.
The author, Michael Valpy, puts forward a theory for the collapse of institutional Christianity in Canada: feminism. Women, during the 1960s, abruptly rejected the patriarchy of the church. And the lack of acceptable role models and ideals created the increase in secularism.
Church membership in Canada climbed before the 1960s and then dramatically collapsed.
Perhaps feminism is one cause for the decline of the church in Canada. Based on my personal experience, church leadership also plays a role. For example, I was involved in one church in my community where the leadership was fundamentally and absolutely flawed: autocratic, dismissive, unresponsive. A greater concern with personal authority and personal ambition than serving the community of believers.
That church witnessed a dramatic exodus. And, much like the rest of institutional Christianity in Canada, a change of leadership was desperately needed. However, such a change is unlikely to happen in this generation.
Perhaps the next generation can achieve for Canada what this generation did not: a vibrant and relevant witness to the greater meaning behind Christmas.
Amen. And hilariously, I think this article applies to a couple of issues you touched on. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,311797,00.html
Hi Richard,
I appreciate your comments and I know that we have had similar experiences but I BELIEVE that when God says:
1 Peter 5:2-3
….shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion,
but willingly as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering
over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” He means it, and sooner or later, He will take care of it in His perfect timing. In the meantime I keep praying.
Blessings to you and your family!