Very Brief History of the ChurchVery Brief History of the Church

~33 – Jesus is killed by religious and ~33 – Jesus is killed by religious and civic leaders. Spirit of Christ falls on civic leaders. Spirit of Christ falls on gathered believers and the church is gathered believers and the church is bornborn

Very Brief History of the ChurchVery Brief History of the Church

~33 – Jesus is killed by religious and ~33 – Jesus is killed by religious and civic leaders. Spirit of Christ falls on civic leaders. Spirit of Christ falls on gathered believers and the church is gathered believers and the church is bornborn

33-333 – Christianity grows from 33-333 – Christianity grows from small sect to major religious small sect to major religious movement, challenging Roman movement, challenging Roman hierarchy/religionhierarchy/religion

Very Brief History of the ChurchVery Brief History of the Church

~33 – Jesus is killed by religious and ~33 – Jesus is killed by religious and civic leaders. Spirit of Christ falls on civic leaders. Spirit of Christ falls on gathered believers and the church is gathered believers and the church is bornborn

33-333 – Christianity grows from small 33-333 – Christianity grows from small sect to major religious movement, sect to major religious movement, challenging Roman hierarchy/religionchallenging Roman hierarchy/religion

333 – Constantine, Roman Emporer, 333 – Constantine, Roman Emporer, makes Christianity the official religion makes Christianity the official religion of Rome. Everyone becomes Christian. of Rome. Everyone becomes Christian.

Very Brief History of the ChurchVery Brief History of the Church 333 – Constantine, Roman Emperor, makes Christianity the 333 – Constantine, Roman Emperor, makes Christianity the

official religion of Rome. Everyone becomes Christian. official religion of Rome. Everyone becomes Christian.

To support and organize this huge To support and organize this huge new religion, hierarchy is established new religion, hierarchy is established and councils are called to determine and councils are called to determine standards for doctrine, cannon…standards for doctrine, cannon…

Very Brief History of the ChurchVery Brief History of the Church 333 – Constantine, Roman Emperor, makes Christianity the 333 – Constantine, Roman Emperor, makes Christianity the

official religion of Rome. Everyone becomes Christian. official religion of Rome. Everyone becomes Christian. To support and organize this huge new religion, hierarchy is To support and organize this huge new religion, hierarchy is

established and councils are called to determine standards established and councils are called to determine standards for doctrine, cannon…for doctrine, cannon…

Ministry is done by “professionals”Ministry is done by “professionals”

Very Brief History of the ChurchVery Brief History of the Church 333 – Constantine, Roman Emperor, makes 333 – Constantine, Roman Emperor, makes

Christianity the official religion of Rome. Christianity the official religion of Rome. Everyone becomes Christian. Everyone becomes Christian.

To support and organize this huge new religion, To support and organize this huge new religion, hierarchy is established and councils are called to hierarchy is established and councils are called to determine standards for doctrine, cannon…determine standards for doctrine, cannon…

Ministry is done by “professionals”Ministry is done by “professionals” Money is given to support Money is given to support

mission work among mission work among “heathen” at the “heathen” at the edgesedges of the of the empire empire

Very Brief History of the ChurchVery Brief History of the Church 333 – Constantine, Roman Emperor, makes Christianity the 333 – Constantine, Roman Emperor, makes Christianity the

official religion of Rome. Everyone becomes Christian. official religion of Rome. Everyone becomes Christian. To support and organize this huge new religion, hierarchy is To support and organize this huge new religion, hierarchy is

established and councils are called to determine standards established and councils are called to determine standards for doctrine, cannon…for doctrine, cannon…

Ministry is done by “professionals”Ministry is done by “professionals” Money is given to support mission work among “heathen” at Money is given to support mission work among “heathen” at

the the edgesedges of the empire of the empire

This method and way of thinking is This method and way of thinking is the backbone of the Christian Church the backbone of the Christian Church until the 1960s counter cultural until the 1960s counter cultural movement movement

Very Brief History of the ChurchVery Brief History of the Church This method and way of thinking is the backbone of the This method and way of thinking is the backbone of the

Christian Church until the 1960s counter cultural movementChristian Church until the 1960s counter cultural movement ““Post modernism” deconstructs the Post modernism” deconstructs the

foundational assumption that foundational assumption that Americans are Christians and that Americans are Christians and that Christians grow up in and remain Christians grow up in and remain affiliated with “their” denomination. affiliated with “their” denomination.

Very Brief History of the ChurchVery Brief History of the Church This method and way of thinking is the backbone This method and way of thinking is the backbone

of the Christian Church until the 1960s counter of the Christian Church until the 1960s counter cultural movementcultural movement

““Post modernism” deconstructs the foundational Post modernism” deconstructs the foundational assumption that Americans are Christians and assumption that Americans are Christians and that Christians grow up in and remain affiliated that Christians grow up in and remain affiliated with “their” denomination. with “their” denomination.

The mainline churches, who The mainline churches, who adhere to the “Christendom” adhere to the “Christendom” paradigm, begin to decline in paradigm, begin to decline in membership. membership.

Denominational Membership TotalsDenominational Membership Totals(in millions)(in millions)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Presbyterians

Assemblies of God

Finance

Outreach

ChurchLife

MissionAdult Ed.

Worship

Personnel

BuildingsGrounds

Youth/Children

Session

Nominating

PNC

Deacons

Long Range Planning

First Pres. Organizational/Ministry Chart