June 22, 2001 Edition

Bishop's Corner
        
Hollow Halls in America?
By Bishop  Timothy W.  Whitaker

In a recent article in The Washington Post T.R. Reid described the “hollow halls in Europe’s churches.” Throughout Europe the churches are almost empty on Sunday morning. In Great Britain and France less than 10 percent of the people attend a service of worship at least once a month. In Scandinavian countries less than 3 percent of the people go to worship.

What has happened to Christianity in Europe is depressing. This continent, which used to be the center of Christendom, holds the most secular people on earth. There are some who hope that interest and involvement in the churches will return as a matter of course. Reid quoted one of the clergy at Canterbury Cathedral who felt that attendance at worship does “tend to wax and wane” and “we can definitely come back, as we have before.” It seems more likely that the Christian faith is dying in Europe and that it will not revive unless there is an awakening of the Spirit.

Will the European trend toward secularity spread to America? There are differences between Europe and America. In America the separation of church and state has proven to strengthen religious institutions because they had to learn how to win the loyalty of people since they could not rely upon financial subsidies of the state. Moreover, the people in America seem to possess a spiritual yearning. Spirituality is not Christianity, but the spiritual yearnings of people in our culture today provide an opportunity for the church to invite people to have faith in the mystery of Christ.

My question is: how long will this moment last when the American people are receptive to spirituality? Unless we as a church seize the moment we may miss a historic opportunity to offer the mystery of Christ as the One for whom our spirits yearn.

As I began to get to know Florida I sense that there are many people in our state who are open to, or even searching for, the way of living that is centered in Jesus Christ. This openness may not always be there. There is always the possibility that a time of hardened secularity may set in. If so, then when we look to Christianity in Europe, we are looking at our future.

I hope and pray that Europe does not set the pattern for America. I believe the way to avoid a future of “hollow halls” in America’s churches is to commit ourselves to the task of evangelism as we seek the illumination, guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit of God.

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 © 2001 Florida United Methodist Review Online