A Catalyst for Change: A Case Study & Reflection on Culture Shift in American Evangelicalism By Daniel Davis

A Nationwide Poll* Revealed: In 1999, 65% of Americans believed that religion was losing its influence in public life … At the same time, a nearly equal amount, 62% claimed that the influence of religion was increasing in their personal lives. *Roof, Wade Clark Spiritual Marketplace: Baby Boomers and the Remaking of American Religion. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press.

And the Survey Says: GSS: In 1985, 4.6% of U.S. Christians claimed no official denominational affiliation. In 2004, this had arisen to 18.5%. A Barna Poll (2009) found that between 4% to 33% of the U.S. population will say they have attended a house church in the last 30 days depending on how the question is worded.

Nationwide: Gallup, 1964: “Have you undergone a religious experience of some variety?”  20% Yes GSS, 2004: “Do you feel God’s presence on a daily basis?”  60% Yes Baylor, 2008: “I felt called by God to do something.”  44% Yes “I heard the voice of God speaking to me.”  20% Yes

Richard Flory & Don Miller, USC “Rationalistic apologetics are largely irrelevant to [GenX] religious commitments, having been replaced by an experience-based epistemology.” From: GenX Religion (2000)

Richard Flory & Don Miller, USC The Key Findings, Shifts in Five Areas: 1. Church Service Style 2. Organizational Structure 3. Locus of Ministry Emphasis 4. Issues of Diversity 5. Primary Source of Authority From: GenX Religion (2000)

Pre-Boomer BoomerPost-Boomer* Observational Participatory Experiential Hierarchical Entrepreneurial Democratic InstitutionalPersonalCommunalHomogenousAnti-Prejudice Inclusive Ideals LegitimateRelevantAuthentic Style Structure Focus Diversity Authority *Post-Boomer Column Adapted from Flory & Miller (2000)

Pre-Boomer BoomerPost-Boomer ObservationalParticipatoryExperiential Style

Pre-Boomer BoomerPost-Boomer HeirarchichalEntrepreneurialDemocratic Structure Assortive NetworksDisassortive Networks

Pre-Boomer BoomerPost-Boomer InstitutionalPersonalCommunal Focus

Pre-Boomer BoomerPost-Boomer HomogenousAnti-Prejudice Inclusive Ideals Diversity Gene Robinson

Pre-Boomer BoomerPost-Boomer LegitimateRelevantAuthentic Authority

Summarizing Themes The shifts can be linked to broader nationwide generational religious shifts. Mainline churches hit plateau after 1950; multiple studies show that Evangelicalism hit plateau after If new startup movements will have staying power is yet to be seen. They are organizationally more fragile. Mainline denominations may have an opportunity to reclaim some ‘religious market-share’ in the next couple decades if their crisis induces a deep enough sense of urgency for change.