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Very Brief History of the Church

~33 – Jesus is killed by religious and
civic leaders. Spirit of Christ falls on
gathered believers and the church is
born
Very Brief History of the Church


~33 – Jesus is killed by religious and
civic leaders. Spirit of Christ falls on
gathered believers and the church is
born
33-333 – Christianity grows from
small sect to major religious
movement, challenging Roman
hierarchy/religion
Very Brief History of the Church



~33 – Jesus is killed by religious and
civic leaders. Spirit of Christ falls on
gathered believers and the church is
born
33-333 – Christianity grows from
small sect to major religious
movement, challenging Roman
hierarchy/religion
333 – Constantine, Roman Emporer,
makes Christianity the official
religion of Rome. Everyone becomes
Very Brief History of the Church


333 – Constantine, Roman Emperor, makes Christianity the
official religion of Rome. Everyone becomes Christian.
To support and organize this huge
new religion, hierarchy is established
and councils are called to determine
standards for doctrine, cannon…
Very Brief History of the Church



333 – Constantine, Roman Emperor, makes Christianity the
official religion of Rome. Everyone becomes Christian.
To support and organize this huge new religion, hierarchy is
established and councils are called to determine standards
for doctrine, cannon…
Ministry is done by “professionals”
Very Brief History of the Church




333 – Constantine, Roman Emperor, makes
Christianity the official religion of Rome.
Everyone becomes Christian.
To support and organize this huge new religion,
hierarchy is established and councils are called to
determine standards for doctrine, cannon…
Ministry is done by “professionals”
Money is given to support
mission work among
“heathen” at the edges of the
empire
Very Brief History of the Church





333 – Constantine, Roman Emperor, makes Christianity the
official religion of Rome. Everyone becomes Christian.
To support and organize this huge new religion, hierarchy is
established and councils are called to determine standards
for doctrine, cannon…
Ministry is done by “professionals”
Money is given to support mission work among “heathen”
at the edges of the empire
This method and way of thinking is
the backbone of the Christian Church
until the 1960s counter cultural
movement
Very Brief History of the Church

This method and way of thinking is the backbone of the
Christian Church until the 1960s counter cultural movement

“Post modernism” deconstructs the
foundational assumption that
Americans are Christians and that
Christians grow up in and remain
affiliated with “their” denomination.
Very Brief History of the Church



This method and way of thinking is the backbone
of the Christian Church until the 1960s counter
cultural movement
“Post modernism” deconstructs the foundational
assumption that Americans are Christians and
that Christians grow up in and remain affiliated
with “their” denomination.
The mainline churches, who
adhere to the “Christendom”
paradigm, begin to decline in
membership.
Denominational Membership Totals
(in millions)
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
Presbyterians
Assemblies of God
2000
1500
1000
500
0
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
First Pres. Organizational/Ministry Chart
Youth/
Children
Nominating
Finance
Buildings
Grounds
Deacons
Personnel
Outreach
Session
Church
Life
Worship
Mission
Long Range
Planning
Adult
Ed.
PNC