Thur«., Sept 23, 1976 SANDY (Ore.) POST - 21 The s o u l-s e a rc h e rs Religion today: Revival? Renewal? Rejection? «EXks is tke Ju st in a m ie s oj m-deptt stones about me 15 church bodies meet in ie Post circulation area This im ber does not include Bible udies or prayer groups which round. These church congregations inge from less than 20 to some -veral hundred persons who icet together regularly. According to the ncyclopedia Britannica Book f the y e a r, there were 25,504,750 adherents of the ;oman C ath olic, Eastern •rthodos and Protestant eligions in North America in 976 This figure represented an urease of 1,365,750 For the ame period, membership in he C hristian churches hrnughout the world declined iy 80,041,050. The demonstrations and riots 4 the Sixties, social unrest and he war In Vietnam were ■oupled with rejection of old ine churches by youth. Substituted were In­ vestigation of mysticism, the iccult and mind-expanding religions. From Baha'i to Zen, the number of followers in America has passed the million mark Since the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh in 1010, an ecumenical movement has been growing within the Christian community. The W orld Council of Churches was formed In 1048 with 144 denominations par­ ticipating. By the mid-Sixties, this group represented almost 50 m illio n m em bers of Christian churches, chiefly Protestant and Orthodox. The movement is based on Christian unity, both spiritual and corporate. Critics of the ecumenicul movement charge that it is an amalgamation of all religious denominations into one gigantic organization. They also term the ec- numenical movement as "new theology” which departs from the doctrines of historic Christianity and replaces the gospel of the Bible with a social gospel of problem-solving in the world. Cutting across the denominational lines is another world movement In the early 1960s an a rtic le in L ife Magazine written by D r John MacKay of Union Theological Seminary and of the World Council of Churches described what he termed a "third force” em erging in Christendom Thia force he described was neither Protestant nor Catholic but coming from their church m em bers, it was neo- Pentecostal Pentecostal groups basically belive in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit as described by Paul in I Corinthians, chapter 12. Speaking in tongues, prophecy, healing of the sick and divine revelation are the Pentecostal hallmarks. The Bible is taken literally as the inspired word of God, and believers refer to being "born- again C h ris tia n s " to acknowledge a commitment to Jesus Chkist. It is the Joining of the neo- Pentecostals from the P r e s b y te r ia n , C a th o lic , Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist and other tra d itio n a l denom inations w ith Pen­ tecostals from the churches they found in the early part of this century that D r MacKay recognized as a third force among Christians. It was Pope John who told Catholics "Renew your won­ ders in our time, as though for a new Pentecost " and it was in the late 1960s the Roman Catholics associated with Notre D am e U n iv e rs ity began speaking in tongues. The Jesus Movement which also emerged among young people in the Sixties sent them first into religious communes and then with long hair and bare feet Into churches where the teaching was from the Bible without dilution. Many of the various religious beliefs, with the obvious ex­ ception of Judaism are represented by churches, meetings and gatherings of adherents of area churches Many of them will be discussed in the Post in the coming weeks Some churches a re ex­ periencing revival, others are seeking methods to keep the membership they have on their rolls. New assemblies of believers are forming and meeting wherever they can find space. O ther churches a re revamping their Sunday school form at in an effort to attract second generation members who no longer attend. Gospel rock, more socials, a minister which draws people to one in Christendom? for youth and representation on from three Sunday morning church or is the attraction in What’s going on in the the governing body of the services together for an religious community? The Post what the pastor teaches? church are methods tried to evening meeting Is there revival and renewal will try to find out. Is there a personality cult keep young people coming to church. Missing in membership in m any churches a re parishioners between the mid­ teens and late twenties One mountain area church is meeting in the living room of a home until a church home can be found. There are also several church related camp­ 10-7 Daily A Sun |9 -1 0 D a ily -1 0 -7 Sun 9-1 0 Daily & Sun grounds in the Post’s cir­ • 4 1 « S I 1 SZtk • 3 4 » ? I t u r a t i« « M . • z » i O ra n a t t » a . H I O arrlond O re culation area G r e ih a m . O re . V a n c o u v e r. W o»«. • 144S 0 S I M « l« u a * li" One Gresham church grew in • 3 M O M a rk e r N l • I » 1 1 « I O iv itta « M ilw a u k ie . O ra . S a le m , O ra . the last few years from a tiny P o rtia « « - O re • IIS G S SW N c . H e r . • 3 4 * 0 C om m ercial S». S I • M D iv iti« « Sr. building half filled to the TiyerU. O ra S alem . O re . lu a a n a . O ra . necessity of holding services at Today thru Saturday Sapt 2 5 ,1 9 7 6 the old Gresham fairgrounds to Cidar Sbed bring all of its churchgoers FredMeyer Nutrition Centers C a m p Fire o rg a n iz e s The M t Hood Council Camp Fire is developing a file for youth of agencies and service organizations interested in enlisting young people as volunteers in agency efforts. To Choose a Gas Pump . . . Instead of a Tree How Gross Can One Bo! VOTE “ B i ” WATER BOHO ISSUE ma concernad r a a w l l H AMsr Croak. Orville chm. 1SJM Rorott n » « Or., » • " * * Apricot D elight Bulk Dried Apples "Cood Aaytlm«" Apple Cider Australia** lo g . ’2J9O. » 1 ! * H atur Clo Perfect 100's "High R9HMT CMROtol" Beg. ‘4.45 B Natur Clo Carile Caps 100's Reg. ‘1.45 "Bay M « far wiater" ■rr«P Mayer Advertising Policy ’ Soch of those advertised items must be readily available for sale at or below the advertised price in each Fred Meyer etere, ewcept we epecifrcolly noted m Hm ed. Fred Meyer.