CONSENSUS PROTESTANTS IN UNITED STATES

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CONSENSUS PROTESTANTS IN UNITED STATES

• Introduction to Religious Studies

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Characteristics

• Friendly or at least tolerant relationships with
  other religions and secular groups
• Reliant on births with the congregation to
  increase membership or focus on converting
  persons with no prior denominational affiliation
  (the unchurched)
• Acceptance that changes in teaching and practices
  should reflect larger social changes but no
  consensus on when or how such change should occur
  (i.e. role/status of women, gays and lesbians)

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Characteristics

• Tolerance of diversity within the denomination
• Worship tends to be more routine than
  spontaneous focus on liturgy
• Professional clergy must meet specific
  educational and certification requirements for
  ordination.
• Religion viewed as a matter of voluntary
  participation.

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Core Beliefs

• Religious life should center on the life, death
  and resurrection of Jesus.
• Bible plays a central role for Protestants it
  stands as the only authority for religious faith
  and practice. All other creeds or doctrine
  subordinate to this principle
• Salvation a undeserved gift from God. Humans can
  do nothing to earn salvation (salvation through
  faith not works)

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Core Beliefs

• The church is the gathered fellowship of
  believers. Church perceived more event than
  institution
• Priesthood of all believers. All Christians
  possess the same responsibilities and authority.
  No person has an inside track to divine
  authority. All are equal because all have access
  to the Bible (in theory)

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Lifestyle

• Protestants must live in the middle of the world,
  not separated from it
• God to be glorified (honored) in all aspects of
  private and communal life
• Morality seen as a response to Gods free gift of
  salvation.

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Rituals

• Two sacraments recognized Only two acts
  disciples (according to some gospels) told by
  Jesus to carry on after his death
• Baptism
• Immersion
• Sprinkling
• Pouring
• Some denominations practice infant baptism,
  others do not

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Rituals

• Lords Supper or Communion
• Common loaf, common chalice
• Intinction
• Non-flour wafer and individual cup (shot glass)
• Some use wine, some use unfermented juice
• Idea of remembrance of sacrifice
• As opposed to transubstantiation or
  consubstantiation
• Bread and wine remain bread and wine

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Rituals

• Preaching as ritual
• Pulpit occupies prominent place in church
  architecture and liturgy
• Considered the focal point of worship

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Organization

• Each Protestant denomination is self-governing
• Congregation form
• Connectional form
• Hierarchical form
• Ecumenical organizations formed to assist
  denominations in meeting shared goals
• National Association of Evangelicals (1942)
• National Council of Churches (1950)

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Organization

• Most ministers are married rather than celibate
  rejection of monastic traditions
• Many traditions ordain women

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Denominational Distinctions

• Taken on less importance over the past 20 years
  and American ideas of individuality and community
  have changed
• About 60 of adults in US self-identify as
  Protestant

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Denominational Chart
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Southern Baptist

• Free Church Movement (church should be adult
  voluntary organization
• New Testament can be interpreted by each believer
  through the Holy Spirit
• There exists no official creed
• Advocates the clear division of church and state
  and freedom of religion
• Church should consist only of those adults
  spiritually reborn and sincere in pursuit of the
  Christian Life (regenerate church membership)

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Southern Baptist

• Supports freedom on conscience in matters of
  belief
• In South, more likely to express a fundamentalist
  perspective
• Inerrancy of Scripture (not myth or allegory)
• Bible is scientifically and historically accurate
• Rejection of evolution as viable world view
• Anticipation of final Judgment Day
• Literal Heaven and Hell

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Southern Baptist

• Individual congregations may set clear standards
  of behavior for members
• Worship tends to be more emotional and
  evangelical (emphasis on a conscious, personal
  conversion to Christ) and varies from one
  congregation to the next
• Actually observe ordinances rather than
  sacraments

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Southern Baptist

• Do not practice infant baptism (requires
  understanding and personal consent)
• Baptism by immersion (although some transfer
  members may be accepted with baptism from other
  denominationsvaries by congregation)
• Congregational but can come together as a
  convention

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United Methodist

• Founded by John Wesley
• Emphasis on practical divinity (putting Christian
  faith into practice)
• Doctrine of salvation based on grace and
  assurance, leading to sanctification
• Non-creedal, like Baptists, but doctrine provides
  the acceptable guidelines for understanding
  Scripture (so not like Baptists). Both creedal
  and non-creedal. Carried by tradition rather than
  by church law.

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United Methodist

• Focus on social dimension of Christian faith
• Basic principles
• Do no harm and avoid evil of all kinds
• Do good of every possible sort to all people
• Observe the ordinances of God including worship,
  Scripture, preaching, participation in the
  sacraments, family prayer, private prayer, Bible
  reading, fasting and abstinence

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United Methodist

• Practice infant baptism confirmation acceptance
  of vows taken on ones behalf when an infant
• Worship varies widely but liturgical order
  suggested in Book of Worship
• Baptism can be by any of the three recognized
  means
• Connectional
• Noted for diversity
• Religion both a matter of mind and heart

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Lutheran

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
• Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod
• Both embrace the basic teachings of Martin Luther
  
• Small Catechism and Augsburg Confession
• Unlike Baptisms and Methodism, Lutherans are a
  creedal denomination (in this regard both
  Scripture and Creeds are necessary for correct
  belief) Creeds of value because they assist in
  revealing the truth of the Word of God

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Luthern

• Usually culture affirming in approach to modern
  world
• Missouri Synod the more conservative of
  traditions, advocating a private schooling system
  and rigid lifestyle
• Worship formal and liturgical. Hymns written by
  Luther given prominence.
• Pulpit and altar of equal importance (unlike
  other Protestant denominations)
• Consubstantiation essence but not literal
  presence

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Presbyterian

• Founded by John Knox, based on teachings of John
  Calvin
• Known as reformed movement- reformed theology
  (emphasizes Gods supremacy over all things, in
  Gods majesty, holiness and providence)
• Possesses a creedal faith (Westminster
  Confession) (also see complete creed set)
• Congregational in organization
• Worship tends to be liturgical with the highpoint
  the sermon (which primarily serves a teaching
  function)

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Presbyterian

• Hymns and prayers should reflect reformed
  theology
• Worship perceived as Gods work in the worldone
  way in which God interacts with the created order
• Encourage infant baptism
• Communion as Memorial
• Many branches of Presbyterianism with largest
  PCUSA (formed in 1983)

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Episcopalian

• Often considered Protestant in theology while
  Catholic in worship
• Creedal while stressing the loyalty in
  essentials and liberty in non-essentials
• Book of Common Prayer
• Possesses saints/ saints days (like Catholics)
• Does possess a small monastic tradition

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Episcopalian

• Tend to be most liberal among Protestants while
  reflecting the highest socioeconomic status
• Sacraments, as effectual means of conveying the
  Grace of God (consubstantiation)
• Eucharistic service on Sunday often called mass
• Like Catholics, sacrament called Eucharist
• Believe that confirmation, reconciliation,
  marriage, ordination, anointing of the sick hold
  sacramental significance (while still remaining
  rites). Unique among Protestants.
• Both Hierarchical and connectional