Southern Baptists lose 1.1 million members in the past 3 years

[Ken]

This article just came out which documents a 1.1 million drop in Southern Baptist numbers since 2019. Some, but not all of it is pandemic related as the denomination was declining in numbers before that as well.

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/ ... tisms.html

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has lost over a million members in the past three years, with back-to-back years of the COVID-19 pandemic following a decade-plus of decline.

Reported SBC membership fell to 13.7 million in 2021, its lowest tally in more than 40 years, according to the latest Annual Church Profile released on Thursday.

Membership in America’s largest Protestant denomination has dropped from 14.8 million in 2018 and a peak of 16.3 million in 2006, and church attendance continued to dwindle during the pandemic.

Other than blaming the pandemic, they don’t really provide any other theories as to why this is happening. I expect some of it has to do with the increased politicization of the SBC which is alienating a lot of former Baptists, especially younger ones who don’t necessarily agree with all the conservative culture war politics of the church these days.

[Josh]

Yep, moving in a liberal direction never spells health for a denomination.

[Ken]

Yep, moving in a liberal direction never spells health for a denomination.

The are actually doing the opposite. And purging those like Russell Moore who are not conservative enough for their tastes.

[Josh]

Yep, moving in a liberal direction never spells health for a denomination.

The are actually doing the opposite. And purging those like Russell Moore who are not conservative enough for their tastes.

Moving towards having women pastors is not becoming more conservative.

[Ken]

Yep, moving in a liberal direction never spells health for a denomination.

The are actually doing the opposite. And purging those like Russell Moore who are not conservative enough for their tastes.

Moving towards having women pastors is not becoming more conservative.

The relevant question is whether people are leaving the SBC because they perceive it to be too liberal or too conservative. Or if they are leaving for some other reason entirely. And in the context of the SBC we are probably talking about political conservatism as much as religious conservatism.

[mike]

The are actually doing the opposite. And purging those like Russell Moore who are not conservative enough for their tastes.

Moving towards having women pastors is not becoming more conservative.

The relevant question is whether people are leaving the SBC because they perceive it to be too liberal or too conservative. Or if they are leaving for some other reason entirely. And in the context of the SBC we are probably talking about political conservatism as much as religious conservatism.

Maybe the problem is they are pleasing nobody. Serious conservatives aren't going to be happy with them, even if they have some token conservative credentials, for reasons like Josh mentioned. Liberals won't like them either.

[temporal1]

Maybe the problem is they are pleasing nobody.
Serious conservatives aren't going to be happy with them, even if they have some token conservative credentials, for reasons like Josh mentioned. Liberals won't like them either.

What, we have a different God today?

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Mal. 3:6

[barnhart]

I'm not wise enough to know precisely why the SBA is declining but I can make a few observations.

One, it should be a call to humility for other conservative minded groups. Over the years I heard confident remarks that growth was God's seal of favor over shrinking mainstream denominations. Growth is not faithfulness.

Two, evangelical churches in general, not only SB, are built on insecure footings of market appeal. Once church is a place to go, not a thing to be, it becomes a buyers market and congregants will follow what pleases. This makes a disciplined church impossible. The mainstream churches did not abandon doctrine because they were evil or manipulated by the devil, but because they followed the things that pleased the most. I would expect evangelicals to follow a similar path.

[Josh]

The SBC is transitioning to becoming a mainline denomination. (Examples are women pastors and adopting a more affirming lgbt stance.)

I wouldn’t call the subsequent shrinkage a matter of God’s blessing or cursing, but simple sociology. For whatever reason, mainline style denominations shrink.

[temporal1]

“The Coverup You Never Heard About” | Voddie Baucham / 18min



2019 Vote: SBC Resolution 9 (CRT and intersectionality)

2019 to 2022 = 3 years (old math)