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Christian Counseling Connection
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NEWS & NOTES
THESE TRENDS, FACTS, AND EMERGING REALITIES ARE INFLUENCING YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS’ WORLD TODAY!
CHURCHES FEAR REFUGEES
Most pastors say Christians try to help refugees and foreigners, and believe caring for
them is a privilege. However, their churches are twice as likely to fear them as they
are to help these people. Forty-four percent believe there is a sense of fear in their
churches about refugees coming to the United States. Presbyterian (96%), Lutheran
(85%), Methodist (85%), Baptist (77%), and Pentecostal (68%) pastors see caring
for refugees as a privilege. Fifty-six percent of Baptist, 50% of Pentecostal, 33% of
Lutheran, and 29% of Presbyterian pastors say there is a fear in their churches about
refugees coming to the U.S.
(LifeWay Research 2/29/16)
THEOLOGICAL SCHOOLS FORCEDTOADAPT
According to a recent Association of Theological Schools study, 55% of its member
schools have declining enrollments. Students are aging; by 2020, there may be more
50+ students than 20-somethings. In response, seminaries and divinity schools
are merging or joining together across religious lines, via interfaith consortiums,
or moving online. Last year, more than 23,000 took at least one distance-learning
course and 18 schools now offer an online-only option for M.Div. students. Others
are working in consortiums with nearby schools from other faith traditions.
(
NY Times
3/18/16)
CHRISTIANITYVIEWEDAS EXTREMIST
According to a new Barna Group study explored in the new book,
Good Faith
, by
David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, 75% of all U.S. adults and 90% of non-believer
adults are concerned about religious extremism. Forty-five percent of non-religious
U.S. adults (atheists, agnostics, and religiously unaffiliated) perceive Christianity to
be extremist. The range of what constitutes extremism is broad. For example, 80%
or more of survey respondents view using religion to justify violence, declining
standard medical care for children, and refusing to serve a customer whose lifestyle
conflicted with their beliefs as extremist. At least 50%, but less than 80%, viewed the
following as extremist: demonstrating outside an organization they consider immoral
and protesting government policies that conflict with religious views. Twenty to 50%
view speaking in tongues, wearing special clothes or head coverings, and adhering to
special dietary restrictions as extremist.
(
Good Faith
by David Kinnaman & Gabe Lyons, Baker
Books, 2016)
THE FOSTER
REPORT
"Students are aging; by
2020, there may be
more 50+ students than
20-somethings."