Ministry in a Multi-Cultural and Unchurched Society

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Mi n i s t r y i n a Mu l t i -Cu l tura l and Unchur ched Soc i et y

World Christianity by the Numbers, continued

The Reformed Episcopal Church was labeled Anglican in WCE1; now it is in the Independent list. The result is that Independents now outnumber Protestants in the world, and even in a traditionally Protestant heartland such as the United States, Independents out number Protestants – at least as they are defined and rearranged here. The authors devote a whole section in the World Christian Trends ( WCT ) volume (pp. 291-309) to the rise of Independency, signaling the great importance they attach to the new category. They provide tables on pages 293 and 303 that define the boundaries that set the Independent denominations apart. But even when using the authors’ own definitions, it is hard to figure out how some denominations (such as those mentioned above) fit in the Independent category. Cutting across the six megablocs in WCE2 , the authors have also introduced three trans-megabloc renewal groupings: Evangelicals, Pentecostals/Charismatics, and Great Commission Christians (no explanation why only “Great Commission Christians” is always in bold-face type). There is extensive description and discussion about Pentecostals/Charismatics (1:19-21). But who are Evangelicals and Great Commission Christians? According to the Glossary (1:25ff.), Evangelicals (capital “E”) are “A subdivision mainly of Protestants consisting of all affiliated church members calling themselves Evangelicals, or all persons belonging to Evangelical congregations, churches or denominations; characterized by commitment to personal religion.” Great Commission Christians are “Believers in Jesus Christ who are aware of the implications of Christ’s Great Commission, who have accepted its personal challenge . . . are attempting to obey [it], and who are seeking to influence the body of Christ to implement it.” To further complicate the picture, “evangelicals” (small “e”) are defined as “synonymous with Great Commission Christians,” and those labeled “nominal Christians” in the first edition are now called “unaffiliated Christians.” These are inadequate and confusing definitions and distinctions, and therefore the enumeration of them is suspect. Other questionable categories included in the enumeration are “Latent Christians” (defined as “both Church members and unaffiliated, who do not involve themselves in Christ’s mission on Earth”), “Non-baptized believers in Christ” (“Members of