1) Rather than leaving organized religion, some evangelicals who no longer feel comfortable in a conservative subculture are finding new spiritual homes in more progressive evangelical churches, such as Churchome, a non-denominational megachurch in Seattle. Members of the church speak about their uneasiness with mainstream American evangelicalism and how Churchome is doing it differently. Churchome focuses on believers disappointed with evangelicalism—with its sermons being full of references that can only be understood by those familiar with evangelical subculture. However, in order not to be associated with the Christian right, Churchome avoids using the label “evangelical.” A recent study by Ariane Kovac finds that “at Churchome, distancing oneself from other forms of evangelicalism seems to be far more important than distancing oneself from the secular world.”
Source: https://churchome.org/about
Although it is not a term used by members, Kovac writes of intra-evangelical “deconversion” to refer to a process where evangelicals are seeking change in identity at a time of evangelical politicization and polarization. She notes that this is more than standard church switching, because it involves transformations in people’s relationship with God and identity as Christians. Members speak about their religious experience in therapeutic terms and their narratives can be seen as “an example of the interconnectedness of psychotherapy, self-help, and evangelicalism in the U.S.” The church that became Churchome was founded in 1992 by the father of its current head pastor, Judah Smith. It was renamed Churchome in 2017 to emphasize that believers did not necessarily need to leave their home for worshipping, and the church developed a range of digital services before the Covid-19 pandemic. There are international Churchome groups and members who have never attended in-person services. In its self-presentation, Churchome “is not only a church for the deconverted but also a deconverted church,” with its identity depending “on a continuously reinvoked departure from conservative evangelicalism,” while avoiding doctrinal conflict and remaining a relatively conventional megachurch in comparison with more radical progressive groups.
(Source: Ariane Kovac in Entangled Religions, August)
2) Tim Busch, a prominent businessman and founder of the Napa Institute, a conservative Catholic organization, has taken on the role of peacemaker in an increasingly divided church. Most bridge-building efforts in the Catholic and other churches have been initiated by moderates and even liberals, so Busch’s new role is unique. His strategy is a simple one: he convenes gatherings at his New York apartment of prominent Catholics who are at odds with each other on issues across the theological and ideological spectrum. The dinners, which have so far convened 40 prominent Catholics, start with a Mass and rosary prayer and then lead to group discussions where participants share their personal stories about how they came to faith as well as their favorite Bible verses. While the guests and Busch broach sensitive topics in the church, the emphasis is on the “relationships among those present.” After the meal, participants take a group photo and exchange contact information, with everyone encouraged to stay in touch. Most attendees are said to have continued the conversations started at the gatherings. The events have drawn the strongly conservative writer Sohrab Ahmari and the liberal Jesuit priest James Martin, who has become a leading advocate of ministry to the LGBTQ community. Martin has suggested importing Busch’s dinner model to parishes nationwide. Busch is also partnering with a Paulist Father’s program seeking to reduce polarization in the church. He believes that such conversations may prevent actual schism in the church and encourage collaboration and cooperation without compromising church teachings.
(Source: America magazine, September)
