THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 2, 1996 TAG: 9603020046
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Issues of Faith
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Betsy Wright
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
IN A CLOSET in my home hangs a neatly pressed Christening gown, to be worn on Sunday by my 10-month-old daughter, Jordannah, at her infant baptism.
At the same time that her tiny soul is commended unto God, I too will be taking a new step in faith. Like Jordannah, I will become an Episcopalian on Sunday morning, thus taking a new turn in the labyrinth of my spiritual path.
I have been many things in my life, but never have I been a denominational loyalist. Born a Baptist, I attended a Methodist church in high school, a Roman Catholic church in college, back to Methodist when my kids were born, then to a Charismatic non-denominational church, then back to a Baptist church, and then since 1988, I have been a Methodist.
If you think that's strange, think again. Surveys and statistics all show that Americans are less denominationally loyal these days than ever before.
Why? There's no one answer, but really a combination of factors.
Mobility. Two hundred years ago, our population was almost 95 percent rural. Most people were born, raised and buried in the same town. Today, less than 2 percent of the population is rural and the average American will move 5.5 times in his or her lifetime.
With all this moving around, many people find it difficult to stick to one denomination. They pull into a new town and church shop, joining the first place that feels right to them, disregarding its denomination.
Ecumenicism. Within Christianity, the ecumenical movement has broken down walls between Roman Catholics and Protestants, and between the many different Protestant denominations. Once these walls were down, it became easier for people to cross over into ``the other territory.'' Once there, people began to see that the other people in the other church weren't much different from themselves. This new insight led many to see that they could choose another denomination and still be a good Christian.
Distrust for authority. Following the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert and the Rev. Martin Luther King, and following Vietnam and Watergate, many people became disenchanted with The Establishment. This disenchantment made it easier to question, even distrust, authority.
This attitude of distrust has affected denominational loyalty by making it easier for many Americans to say, ``Why should I be a such-and-such just because that's what I was raised? I think I'll become something else.''
As this attitude has grown, the stigma of switching denominations has diminished. Changing to another denomination has became no big deal.
Relaxed membership requirements. In Colonial times, more people attended church than were actual members of churches. Church membership then was a privilege and demanded great moral piety, financial commitment and a greater understanding of one's chosen denomination.
Today, joining a church is easy. You meet with the pastor once or twice, express a desire to join, say a few words of intention, and presto!, you're a member. While this has encouraged a greater number of names on church roles, it has also made church hopping a lot easier.
Me-first mentality. Since the mid-'60s, more and more Americans have developed a me-first mentality. This mentality places a greater emphasis on the individual's needs and wants vs. the community's needs and wants. This mentality works against denominational loyalty, fostering an attitude of ``If this church doesn't meet my needs, I'll move on to another.''
The Born-Again Movements. The Evangelical and Charismatic religious movements that have swept this country over the past 20 years have led many to label mainline denominations as ``stale.'' The result of this is a mushrooming of non-denominational churches. Some mainline churches have even taken their denomination's names off their church sign boards.
With this attitude within the church leadership, is it any wonder that the issue of denomination has become of less importance to church-going Americans?
Which factors led to my most recent case of denominational disloyalty? All the above. When my husband and I moved to another city, we tried both the local Methodist church and the Roman Catholic church, but neither of us felt entirely comfortable at either place.
We both, however, have found a home in this little Episcopalian chapel. As a Roman Catholic - who won't be joining, but will be attending our new church - my husband likes the weekly serving of the Eucharist. I like the preaching I've heard there. We both like the casual atmosphere and the friendly people.
In making this decision, I sounded out my relatives and friends. One helped me a great deal by asking: ``Do you really think that the first question God asks when you get to heaven is, `What denomination were you?' ''
No, I don't believe that. Do you? by CNB