11/2 is fast approaching

Interesting article in this morning's Union-Leader by Congregationalist leader Rev. David Runnion-Bereford, warning against the upcoming "consecration" of Gene Robinson as Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire. He brings up some interesting facts. Did you know New Hampshire has the lowest church attendance in the nation? He continues: The congregational churches affiliated with the United Church of Christ are the founding spiritual bodies of most of New England’s towns and villages. Yet our denomination has led the nation in promoting male homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders and other folks involved in the behavior of sexual license to ordained ministry and positions of leadership.

The consequences have been devastating. We have lost and continue to lose more members and children on a percentage basis than any other denomination in the United States. Congregations are disaffiliating at a steady rate. Growing numbers refuse to provide any financial support to the denomination. One third of the churches have suffered such decline they can no longer support a full-time pastor and are in danger of closing. There is an acute clergy shortage with fewer than 200 clergy under the age of 40 in the entire denomination.

Much of the spiritual malaise of our state is directly reflective of the indigenous churches affiliated with the United Church of Christ who have sold their birthright in Christ to conform to the moral confusion of a post sexual revolution society.

Quite deplorable, yet unsurprising in so many ways. All eyes will be on Manchester on November 2nd.