Top 10 Religous Stories of 2007

Another year has rolled by, and it’s time for my annual list of Top 10 Religious Stories for the last 12 months. In years past, I issued the “Top 10 Fundamentalist Stories” and “The Top 10 Fundamentalist and Evangelical Stories.” Last year, I offered two lists—one for fundamentalists and one for evangelicals. But this past year was a relatively slow one, so it’s back to a combined list. Doing a combined list is awkward at best for a variety of issues. Most fundamentalists don’t like to be connected to evangelicals and vice versa. I’m also one of those folks who isn’t completely comfortable with either “term” when being used to describe me. I’m a self-identified “theological fundamentalist,” but I have rejected much of the baggage that the term has accumulated over time. From a big-picture view, secular observers would associate me with the evangelical wing of Christianity, but I have multiple “issues” with modern Evangelicalism. There is one positive element to a combined list, however. These lists are notorious for causing debate and even a bit of controversy. By combining the two groups into one, I’m sure to incite even more angry retorts, flaming e-mails, and calls for my impeachment. So … let’s let the fun begin!

The Top 10 Stories Impacting Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism in 2007

10. Answers in Genesis Opens New Creation Museum

Ken Ham’s Answers in Genesis organization opened a $27 million young earth museum designed to explain creation science and to challenge Darwinism. The 60,000-square-foot museum, located in Petersburg, Kentucky, drew more than twice the projected attendance during its first six months of operation.

9. Supreme Court Upholds Legislation Prohibiting Partial-Birth Abortions

In a close 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a challenge to state legislation that prohibited partial-birth abortions. The procedure involves delivering a viable baby except for its head, then puncturing the skull and sucking out the brains, collapsing the skull, and delivering the dead remains. This ruling marks a long-awaited victory in the courts, reducing the scope of legalized abortions—an issue that has motivated many “religious right” voters for the last quarter century to elect conservative presidents who would appoint life-friendly justices to the high court.

8. Pastor Bob Gray (Jacksonville, FL) Faces Child Molestation Charges and Passes Away Before His Trial

In a scandal that has shaken many fundamentalists and the Bible Belt city of Jacksonville, Florida, Pastor Bob Gray of the Trinity Baptist Church—one of America’s earliest so-called mega-churches—was charged with multiple counts of child molestation involving little girls and at least one boy who attended the day school sponsored by his church. Mere days before the beginning of his trial, Gray fell at home, sank into a coma, and never recovered. He died without facing earthly justice.

7. Passing On: the Deaths of Falwell, Kennedy, Ruth Graham, Fremont, Roberson, Malone

Multiple strong leaders went home to be with the Lord, further marking the end of an era of iconoclastic leadership among Christian fundamentalists and evangelicals. Most notable was the sudden death of Jerry Falwell (more on this later). In addition, we lost Dr. D. James Kennedy, senior pastor of the venerable Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and founder of Evangelism Explosion; Ruth Bell Graham, wife of America’s evangelist Billy Graham; Dr. Walter Fremont, longtime dean of education at Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC) and Christian school pioneer; Lee Roberson, founder of Tennessee Temple University and Seminary and longtime senior pastor of Highland Park Baptist Church (both in Chattanooga, TN); and Tom Malone, one-time fundamentalist firebrand and founder of Midwestern Baptist College (Pontiac, MI).

6. Frances Beckwith Converts to Catholicism

Frances Beckwith, president of the Evangelical Theological Society, waited until his term expired, then converted (actually reconverted) to become a full member of the Roman Catholic Church. Such a decision seemed to underscore the suspicion of many theological conservatives and fundamentalists that mainstream evangelicals are adrift in a theological mushiness that fails to note or define the significant differences between Catholicism and evangelical and Reformed/Protestant Christianity.

5. “Religious Right” Drifts Politically

Disillusionment with politics in general, disappointment with the Bush administration on multiple levels, a resurgence of evangelical social activism that lends itself to more liberal politics, and the lack of a clearly viable conservative Republican candidate for the presidency has, thus far, watered down the influence of religious conservatives in the 2008 presidential contest. Confusing endorsements by Bob Jones III (Romney) and Pat Robertson (Giuliani) led to criticism of the endorsers, while few seemed to follow their lead. In recent weeks, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee has caught on with some values voters, but some leaders (like Phyliss Schlafly of Eagle Forum) have loudly questioned even his conservative credentials. (In addition, others have noted that the former Southern Baptist pastor did not publicly side with inerrantists in the on-going conflict with the SBC.) James Dobson has even suggested the option of running a third-party candidate if the Republicans nominate a pro-abortion candidate like Rudy Giuliani. Whether the religious right will coalesce around a Republican nominee remains to be seen.

4. Hybels Admits That Seeker-Driven Philosophy Is Flawed

After completing a multi-year study on the effectiveness of their programs and philosophy of ministry, the leaders of Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, IL) have admitted that what they have taught millions of pastors, church leaders, and converts to “do” is “not producing solid disciples of Jesus Christ.” Pastor Bill Hybels confessed, “We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become ‘self feeders.’ We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their Bible between services, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.” Talk about a big “oops” on that one.

3. Death of Iconic Leadership

The 1900s was a century of “icons” in Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism. Larger-than-life individuals often built followings bordering on personality cults. Sunday, Jones, Rice, Criswell, Lee, Roberson, Norris, Hyles, Graham, Rogers, and scores of others had thousands (if not millions) of supporters composed of mere admirers to ardent sycophants. They could, with a single sermon or a press release, influence elections, draw 10s of thousands, sell millions of dollars worth of product, or make front-page articles in newspapers. Today’s generation tends to be far less loyal to individuals and far more cynically minded toward those who would claim to be spokesmen. The frequent scandals of the last quarter century along with the rise in Internet “conversations” (blogs, discussion boards, forums, and forwarded e-mail newsletters) that question, challenge, and debate endlessly and provide a seeming “equal voice” to anyone with a computer and an Internet connection have diluted, if not muted, the voice of many powerful leaders (and egos). Today’s generation of believers don’t want to be told for whom to vote, what to read, or how to behave. They are more likely to ask “why” and “says who?” than previous generations were. The children of yesterday’s Fundamentalism are better educated, more cynical, more sophisticated, and less likely to follow in their parents’ footsteps than previous progeny. They are far more influenced by the culture and far less influenced by dogmatism. This change will demand better generational dialogue, patience, thoughtful discourse, and thorough explanations if historic positions are to be passed on to future descendants.

2. The Growth of Distance Learning

The distance-learning trend is not limited to the world of religious conservatives, but is definitely impacting how we educate and train our future spiritual leaders. Internet-based learning systems, distance learning programs, and nonresidential forms of higher education are exploding across the spectrum. In evangelical and fundamentalist circles, the pacesetter tends to be Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA), which is approaching an enrollment of 25,000 distance learning students. At one time, correspondence schools were the only form of distance learning available, and many were so substandard that the degrees obtained through that method were the cause of smirks among academicians. Today’s distance learning programs are accredited and innovative, and often contain practical observational and practicum strategies that make them ever more popular. The flexibility of distance-learning programs also appeals to those who want to take longer to complete a degree, to stay in their hometowns, or to keep their current jobs. As this trend spreads beyond graduate schools to include undergraduate programs, the impact on residential-oriented Christian colleges could be significant. Accredited programs, particularly for colleges who are eligible to provide GI-related tuition assistance for their students, are exploding with growth and have the greatest potential for influencing the next generation of graduates.

1. The Death of Jerry Falwell and the TRBC/LU Transition

On May 15, 2007, even network news channels interrupted their regular scheduling to report on the death of Jerry Falwell. From CNN to Fox News, commentators spent hours discussing and debating his influence on American politics, society, and religion. Falwell, no stranger to controversy from within and without evangelical and fundamental circles, was a large-than-life personality who wrapped his unique style of leadership and dogma in a warm, amiable package. His ability to defuse tension with humor; his knack for remembering names, faces, and details; and his seemingly unending visions and big dreams made him hard to dislike personally, though many took umbrage with him positionally. What has been striking since his death has been the smoothness of the transition within the myriad ministries he founded in Lynchburg, Virginia. A transition plan was reportedly laid out several years ago that included a colossal life insurance payout that left Liberty University debt free for the first time in its existence. Jonathan Falwell assumed leadership of the church ministries while Jerry Falwell Jr. took the reins at the university. Jonathan is by far the superior communicator, and according to reports as many as 1,500 new members have joined Thomas Road Baptist Church since he assumed the senior pastor position. The church now ranks in the top 10 largest churches in America. Jerry Jr. is known to be an astute businessman and planner, but he is far less comfortable in the public eye than was his father or is his brother. Yet enrollment at the university continues to climb, with more than 10,000 resident students expected this year in addition to the 20,000-plus students in the distance-learning programs. Neither son is perceived to be as politically oriented as his father. Few mega-ministries have experienced similarly smooth generational transfers. If this transfer continues as it started, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for “Liberty Mountain” in the sleepy southern town of Lynchburg, Virginia.

Honorable Mentions:

Certainly a few “honorable” mentions could be considered, including the following:

• The investigation of multiple high-profile (mostly charismatic) ministries by Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa for financial irregularities
• The tragic shooting of four young people at the Denver Youth With a Mission training center and at New Life Church in Colorado Springs
• The forced resignation of Richard Roberts from the presidency of Oral Roberts University
• The switch of alliances by well-known former fundamentalist Joe Zichterman, the former professor at Northland Baptist Bible College (Dunbar, WI) who aligned with Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, IL)
• Appointment of Dr. Chuck Phelps as president of Maranatha Baptist Bible College (Watertown, WI)
• Appointment of the Rev. Jim Edge as president of Baptist Bible College (Springfield, MO)
• Appointment of the Rev. David Melton as president of Boston Baptist College
• Disaffiliation of most Southern Baptist colleges in North Carolina from the state convention
• Application for affiliation with the Tennessee Southern Baptist Convention by Tennessee Temple University (Chattanooga, TN)
• Infamous Huckabee “floating cross” ad
• Evangelicals and environmental activism
• The rise of anti-Christian books from atheist authors like Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, and Sam Harris
• Persecution of Christians in Turkey, Iraq, India, Afghanistan, China, Burma/Mynamar, and other countries
• Grave illness of former ABWE president Dr. Wendell Kempton
• Serious illness and recovery of Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
• Growing controversy due to Joel Osteen’s theology and lack of clarity during media interviews
• Dedication of the Billy Graham Library, which brought three former presidents together in Charlotte, North Carolina
• Efforts by Democratic presidential candidates to reach out to “values voters”
• Continuing rift over gay ordination in Episcopalian denomination as conservatives revolt

That’s my list for 2007. Let the debating begin!

Dan Burrell is on a sabbatical after seventeen years of pastoral ministry of two large churches and is currently serving three colleges and seminaries as an adjunct professor, consulting with Christian day schools and working on several book projects. He’s also a commentator for the Evangelical Press News and blogs at Whirled Views with Dan Burrell.