The ‘fire is rising’ as people in Britain increasingly encounter God in unexpected ways – with evangelical congregations growing, but churches of the ‘mushy middle’ declining.
That was the message from a panel of experts discussing the future of faith in the UK. The annual Theos think-tank event was held at BMA House in central London, and featured a panel of authors, broadcasters and the General Secretary of Churches Together in England, evangelical Mike Royal. It was entitled Does the Future Have A Church?
With a range of experiences and faith perspectives represented, the panel were in agreement that it was orthodox and evangelical churches that were growing. Broadcaster Justin Brierley referred to a change in culture, calling it a ‘meaning crisis’. The pandemic and political and global uncertainty meant people were again asking existential questions. They were, he suggested, now seeking mystery – and it is the churches that ‘offer something otherworldly, that take you out of your humdrum daily existence, that are actually the most attractive; and it’s the mushy middle where churches are declining’. Podcaster and author Tom Holland’s advice to ‘lean into the weird’ was quoted.
Saoirse, Spurgeon and soundbites
How often do you hear the conversation happening around you, and wish that you could think of the perfect riposte? …