By Mark Tooley, Institute on Religion and Democracy
January 1998 – Even as America’s mainline denominations slide further into apostasy and inertia, renewal movements within those churches have arisen to fight for biblical reform.
Our country’s third largest religious body is the United Methodist Church, with 8.5 million members. Theological and political ideologues dominate its national church bureaucracy. But as in most mainline churches, the church’s membership is more conservative. Voices for the disempowered and often ignored majority include Good News, the Confessing Movement and UMAction.
Now over 30 years old, Good News publishes a quality, bimonthly magazine that goes to nearly 70,000 churches and households. It hosts annual convocations for United Methodist evangelicals and leads the fight for biblical principles at the denomination’s quadrennial General Conference.
The recently organized Confessing Movement, named after German Christians who refused to compromise their faith under the Nazis, also promotes theological orthodoxy through periodic national conferences and organizing within the state conferences.
UMAction, a branch of the Washington-based Institute on Religion and Democracy, aggressively reports on theological and political radicalism within national church agencies and seminaries through its UMAction Briefing, which now goes to 60,000 United Methodists.
Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.)
In the 3.7 million member Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Presbyterian Layman organization is the main force for theological renewal and financial accountability. Its 16-page newspaper of the same name is delivered to over 500,000 Presbyterian households. Conservatives and liberals depend on The Layman for vital information about their church not found in official denominational publications.
The Layman will deliver its publication to every member of your church if you send them a church directory.
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
In the 5.2 million member Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, The Great Commission Network advocates sound Lutheran doctrine through its Networking Together newsletter. The Network also produces videos and convenes occasional conferences.
Episcopal church
Traditionalist Episcopalians look to Episcopalians United and its bimonthly newspaper, The United Voice, for the story-behind-the-story in their troubled denomination.
The Episcopal Church, which came within one vote of endorsing same-sex marriages at its General Convention this year, is sharply divided between theological liberals and conservatives. Also working for its renewal is the new American Anglican Council, an umbrella of Episcopal reform groups formed last year under the leadership of Bishop James Stanton of Dallas.
United Church of Christ
As perhaps America’s most liberal Protestant denomination, the 1.5 million member United Church of Christ numbers both practicing homosexuals and witches among its clergy. But Biblical Witness Fellowship still lifts up the banner of Christ for BWF members who will not surrender. Besides publishing a quarterly newspaper called The Witness, BWF lobbies at church synods and holds annual convocations.
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The 900,000 member Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has lost nearly 40% of its membership. But Disciple Renewal continues to battle for renewal in the denomination’s national and state conventions, while offering ministry to Disciples congregations which have become independent. Besides publishing a quarterly magazine called Disciple Heritage Journal, Disciple Renewal hosts annual convocations.
Institute on Religion and Democracy
The Institute on Religion and Democracy monitors all of the above mentioned mainline denominations, plus the National and World Councils of Churches, and other organizations of the Religious Left. IRD has committees not only for United Methodists, but also for Presbyterians and Episcopalians, with denominational letters for each. The Association for Church Renewal, a coalition of mainline reform groups, operates in cooperation with IRD.
Every mainline renewal group faces enormous obstacles as they seek to reclaim their churches for Jesus Christ and His Word. But the battle is worth fighting. Millions of faithful Christians still worship in mainline churches. These institutions still command enormous influence in our nation. If any part of the Body of Christ is troubled, then all Christians have cause for distress. Please pray for these renewal groups as they continue their struggle at the service of our Lord. 
RENEWAL RESOURCES
Good News – P. O. Box 150, Wilmore, KY 40390; 606-858-4661
Confessing Movement – 7995 E. 21st Street, Indianapolis, IN 46219; 317-356- 9729
Presbyterian Layman – P. O. Box 2210, Lenoir, NC 28645-2210; 704-758-8716
UMAction Briefing – 1521 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; 202-986-1440
Networking Together – 13200 Highway 55, Minneapolis, MN 55441-2699;612-557- 9383
The United Voice – 30325 Brainbridge Road, Building A, Suite #1, Solon, OH 44139; 216-248-0090
Bishop James Stanton: P. O. Box 720669, Dallas, TX 75372; 800-914-2000
The Witness – P. O. Box 102, Candia, NH 03034-0102; 800-494-9172
Disciple Heritage Journal – P. O. Box 109, Lovington, IL 61937-0109; 217-873- 5126
IRD – 1521 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; 202-986-1440
