Mainline Protestant: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:41, 16 December 2025

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Eucharist observed by a congregation of the United Methodist Church, a typical mainline Protestant denomination and one of the "Seven Sisters of American Protestantism"

The mainline Protestants (sometimes also known as oldline Protestants)Template:Sfnm^[1]^[2] are a group of Protestant denominations in the United States and Canada largely of the theologically liberal or theologically progressive persuasion that contrast in history and practice with the largely theologically conservative evangelical, fundamentalist, charismatic, confessional, Confessing Movement, historically Black church, and Global South Protestant denominations and congregations.^[3]^[4]^[5]Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Some make a distinction between "mainline" and "oldline", with the former referring only to denominational ties and the latter referring to church lineage, prestige and influence.^[6] However, this distinction has largely been lost to history and the terms are now nearly synonymous.

Mainline Protestant churches have stressed social justice and personal salvation and, both politically and theologically, tend to be more liberal than non-mainline Protestant churches. Mainline Protestant churches share a common approach that often leads to collaboration in organizations such as the National Council of Churches, and because of their involvement with the ecumenical movement, they are sometimes given the alternative label of ecumenical Protestantism (especially outside the United States). While in 1970 the mainline Protestant churches claimed most Protestants and more than 30 percent of the American population as members, since 2009^[update]Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". they were a minority among American Protestants, claiming approximately 15 percent of American adults. In 2024, approximately 13.1% of Americans were white non-Hispanic mainline Protestants according to the Public Religion Research Institute's Census of American Religion.^[7]

Notable examples of modern-day denominations in the Mainline tradition include the United Methodists, the Episcopalians, and the United Church of Christ (not to be confused with the Churches of Christ).

Terminology

The term mainline Protestant was coined during debates between modernists and fundamentalists in the 1920s.Template:Sfn Several sources claim that the term is derived from the Philadelphia Main Line, a group of affluent suburbs of Philadelphia; most residents belonged to mainline denominations.^[8] Today, most mainline Protestants remain rooted in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. C. Kirk Hadaway and Penny Long Marler define the term as follows: "the term 'mainline Protestant' is used along with 'mainstream Protestant' and 'oldline Protestant' to categorize denominations that are affiliated with the National Council of Churches and have deep historical roots in and long-standing influence on American society."Template:Sfn

In the US, Protestantism is generally divided between mainline denominations and evangelical or theologically conservative denominations. The term is also occasionally used to refer to historic Protestant churches in Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Latin America, and South Africa.^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13] The term has also been applied globally by researchers at Durham University.^[14] In some other parts of the world, the term mainline Protestant is not used. Instead, the term "ecumenical" is used to distinguish similar churches from evangelical denominations.Template:Sfn^[15] Some have criticized the term mainline for its alleged White Anglo-Saxon Protestant ethnocentric and elitist assumptions, and its erroneous association with the term "mainstream" since it almost exclusively described White American, non-fundamentalist and non-evangelical Protestant Americans from its origin to the late twentieth century.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn^[3]^[5]

Mainline vs. mainstream

The term mainstream Christian in academic usage is not equivalent to mainline Protestant and is often used as an attempt to find impartial sociological vocabulary in distinguishing orthodoxy and heresy.Template:Sfn Hence in Christological and doctrinal reference mainstream Christianity is often equivalent to Trinitarianism. Mainline Protestantism should not be confused with Nicene Christianity which is more widely accepted as having the "mainstream Christianity" designation that also includes Catholics, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox believers, and non-Mainline Protestants such as Evangelical, Fundamentalist, Charismatic, Confessional, Confessing Movement, the historically Black church, and Global South Protestants.^[3]^[4]^[5]Template:Sfn Template:Sfn In the United Kingdom and Australia, the term mainline Protestant is not always used, and mainstream does not mean progressive Protestant. Although some supporters and adherents do claim that Mainline Protestant is synonymous with Mainstream Protestant.Template:Sfn^[16]

Denominations

File:12-07-12-Washington National Cathedral-RalfR-N3S 5678-5694.jpg

Washington National Cathedral, an Episcopal cathedral in Washington, D.C.

File:1stChurchofChrist FarmingtonCT.jpg

A Congregational church of the United Church of Christ denomination in Farmington, Connecticut

File:Augustana Lutheran Church - sign.JPG

Augustana Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C., belonging to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The largest mainline churches are sometimes referred to as the "Seven Sisters of American Protestantism,"^[17] a term apparently coined by William Hutchison.Template:Sfn The "Seven Sisters" are:

United Methodist Church (UMC) is the largest mainline Protestant denomination among the "Seven Sisters" with nearly 5.04 million members in the United States in 2024.^[18]
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is the second largest mainline denomination with approximately 2.7 million baptized members and 8,400 congregations at the end of 2024.^[19]
Episcopal Church (TEC) is third largest, with 1.6 million active baptized members,^[20] of whom 1.4 million members are located in the United States in 2022.^[21]
Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA) is the fourth largest mainline denomination, with 1.1 million active members in 8,700 congregations (2021).^[22]
American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) is fifth in size, with approximately 1.1 million members (2017).^[23]
United Church of Christ (UCC) is the sixth and has about 710,000 members in 2022.^[24]
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (DOC) is the seventh and has about 278,000 members as of 2022.^[25]

The term 'mainline' has also been applied to Canadian Protestant churches that share common origins with their US counterpartsTemplate:Sfnm^[26] such as the:

United Church of Canada 325,315 members (2023),^[27] 1.2 million adherents according to 2021 Canadian Census^[28]
Anglican Church of Canada 294,931 members (2022),^[29] 1.1 million adherents according to 2021 Canadian Census^[28]
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada 111,570 members (2015)^[30]
Canadian Baptist Ministries 81,685 members^[31]
Presbyterian Church in Canada 79,961 members (2019)^[32]
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada Template:Efn 2,606 members^[33]

The Association of Religion Data Archives, Pew Research, and other sources also consider these denominations, listed with adherents and members, to be mainline:^[34]Template:Sfn

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 700,000 members^[35]
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) 350,000 members
Reformed Church in America 104,921 members (2022)^[36]
Mennonite Church USA 100,000 members^[37]^[38]
Church of the Brethren 87,181 members (2021)^[39]
International Council of Community Churches 69,276 members (2009)^[40]
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 65,392 members (2002)^[41]Template:Efn
Alliance of Baptists 65,000 members^[42]
Moravian Church in North America 60,000 members^[43]
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches 15,666 members (2006)^[44]
Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 12,000 members (2007)
Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad 8,000 members^[45]
Hungarian Reformed Church in America 6,080 members^[46]

These same sources also consider "Mainline" other denominations outside the US, including:

Anglican Church of Mexico 100,000 members^[47]^[48]^[49]^[50]
Mennonite Church Canada 31,000 members^[51]^[52]
The term is also occasionally used to refer to historic Protestant churches in Europe, Latin America, and South Africa.^[53]^[12]^[10]^[13] It has also been applied globally.^[14]

Historically African American denominations are usually categorized differently from evangelicals or mainline.^[54] However, in 2014 the Christian Century identified that these groups "fit the mainline description."^[55]

African Methodist Episcopal Church 2.5 million^[56]
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church 1.4 million^[57]
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 858,670 members^[58]

Though not listed as mainline in either the Association of Religion Data Archives or the Pew Research classifications, two groups also appeal to this label.

The practices of the Community of Christ (Latter Day Saint movement) [with 250,000 adherentes]^[59]) are typified as congruent with mainline Protestantism.^[60]Template:Sfn
While no longer exclusively Christian, the Unitarian Universalist Association [with 211,000 adherents] considers itself to be mainline.^[61]^[62]

Some denominations with similar names and historical ties to the Seven Sisters mainline groups are not considered mainline: The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) [13.2 million],^[63] Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) [1.7 million],^[64] the Churches of Christ and Christian churches [1.1 million each],^[65]^[66] the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) [0.4 million],^[67] the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) [0.13 million],^[68] and the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (CCCC) [0.04 million]. After the recent split of the UMC, the Global Methodist Church (GMC) could be added to this list, though no official census is currently known. Since these groups are too theologically conservative to be considered mainline, those strictly adhering to historical rules of faith are grouped as confessional, while those without are grouped as evangelical. The Institute on Religion and Democracy considers these denominations to be "mainline-adjacent" due to their origins in the mainline Protestant denominations.^[69]^[70]^[71]

Theology

Variation

Script error: No such module "Sidebar". Mainline Protestantism is characterized by theological and ideological pluralism. While doctrinal standards and confessional statements exist, these are not usually interpreted in ways to exclude people from membership.Template:Clarification needed Richard Hutcheson Jr., chairman of the Office of Review and Evaluation of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, observed that clergy candidates were more likely to be rejected due to "excessive narrowness" than for violating confessional standards.Template:Sfn

Mainline churches hold a range of theological orientations—conservative, moderate and liberal.^[72] About half of mainline Protestants describe themselves as liberal.^[72] Mainline Christian groups are often more accepting of other beliefs and faiths, affirm the ordination of women, and have become increasingly affirming of gay ordination.^[72] A 2021 Pew Research Center survey found that 56% of mainline Protestants believe that non-Christians, including agnostics and atheists, can go to heaven, compared to around a fifth of evangelical Protestants and 38% of those who attend historically Black churches.^[73] Nearly one-third of mainline Protestants call themselves conservative, and most local mainline congregations have a strong, active conservative element.^[72] Mainline denominations are historically Trinitarian and proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Son of God.

In practice, mainline churches tend to be theologically moderate and influenced by higher criticism, an approach used by scholars to separate the Bible's earliest historical elements from perceived later additions and intentional distortions. Mainline denominations generally teach that the Bible is God's Word in function, but that it must be interpreted both through the lens of the cultures in which it was originally written, and examined using God-given reason.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". A 2008 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 22 percent of the 7,500 mainline Christians surveyed said the Bible is God's Word and is to be interpreted as literally true, word for word. Thirty-eight percent thought that the Bible is God's Word but is not to be taken literally, word for word. Twenty-eight percent said the Bible was not the Word of God but was of human origin.Template:Sfn

It has been noted, Template:Clarification needed span Template:Weasel words inline that the leadership of denominational agencies and bureaucracies has often been more theologically and socially liberal than the overall membership of the mainline churches. This gap has caused feelings of alienation among conservative mainline Protestants.Template:Sfn This dissatisfaction has led to the formation of various Confessing Movements or charismatic renewal movements which are more conservative in tone.

Social justice

The mainline denominations emphasize the biblical concept of justice, stressing the need for Christians to work for social justice, which usually involve politically liberal approaches to social and economic problems. Early in the 20th century, they actively supported the Social Gospel.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Mainline churches were basically pacifistic before 1940, but under the influence of people such as Reinhold Niebuhr they supported World War II and the Cold War.Template:SfnScript error: No such module "Unsubst". They have been far from uniform in their reaction to issues of gender and sexuality, though they tend to be more accepting than the Catholic Church or the more conservative Protestant churches.Template:Sfn

Social issues

Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Many mainline denominations are active in voicing perspectives on social issues. Almost all mainline denominations are gender-inclusive and ordain women.^[74]

Politically, mainline churches are also active. While no particular candidate can be endorsed, mainline churches often invite political speakers. At the 2016 General Conference for the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a historically Black denomination which also identifies as mainline, Hillary Clinton was invited to offer an address for the delegates and clergy.^[75]

Abortion

The Episcopal Church (TEC), Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA), Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), and United Church of Christ (UCC) are members of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.^[76] The United Methodist Church (UMC) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) support exceptions, when abortion may be necessary, but do not endorse the procedure.^[77]^[78] Other denominations, such as the Church of the Brethren and Mennonite Church USA, are against abortion.^[79]^[80]

Human sexuality

Many mainline churches recognize, bless and/or perform same-sex marriages, including the ELCA, TEC, PC(USA), Society of Friends (Quaker), UUA, UCC,^[81] the Anglican Church of Canada,^[82] Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada,^[83] and United Church of Canada.^[84]

In 2015, the Mennonite Church Canada saw its first same-sex marriage in one of its congregations.^[85]

The American Baptist Churches USA allows each congregation the freedom to decide for itself.^[86] Some congregations of the Church of the Brethren have also voted to perform same-gender marriages although the national denomination opposes this practice.^[87]

The Mennonite Church USA, Metropolitan Community Church, and Moravian Church Northern Province license or ordain openly gay clergy.^[88]^[89] The Western Jurisdiction of the UMC also elected the denomination's first openly gay bishop in 2016.^[90]

The ELCA, TEC, PC(USA), UCC, UUA, Anglican Church of Canada, ELCIC, and United Church of Canada also ordain openly transgender clergy; the United Methodist Church has allowed the ordination of openly transgender clergy since 2007.^[91]^[92]

Statistical decline

United States

The term "mainline" once implied a certain numerical majority or dominant presence in mainstream society, but that is no longer the case. Protestant churches as a whole have slowly declined in total membership since the 1960s. As the national population has grown these churches have shrunk from 63% of the population in 1970 to 54% by 2000, and 40% in 2024, ceasing to be the religious category for the majority of Americans.^[93]^[94] American affiliation with mainline denominations declined from 55% of all Protestants in 1973 to 29% in 2024.^[95] The number of mainline congregations in the U.S. declined from more than 80,000 churches in the 1950s to about 72,000 in 2008.^[96] Robert Drinan estimated that there may have been a hundred million Mainline Protestants at one time in the United States.^[97]

Various causes of mainline decline in population have been cited. Much analysis has taken place both from those within and outside mainline denominations. Key factors indicate that all types of churches can and do grow, regardless of hymnody or contemporary music, type of liturgy, average age of worshiper, or location^[98] On average, however, churches in rural areas, churches with older congregants, and churches with fewer young people involved struggle most to add members and grow churches. For example, of all churches founded since 1993, 54% are experiencing growth, compared to 28% of congregations founded prior to 1900.Template:Sfn As demographics change, the churches founded by earlier generations often struggle to adapt to changing conditions, including the declines or shifts in the age and ethnicity of local populations. Says David Roozen, Director of Hartford Seminary's Hartford Institute for Religion Research, "Location, Location, Location used to be the kind way that researchers described the extent to which the growth or decline of American congregations was captive to the demographic changes going on in their immediate neighborhoods."^[99] Age demographics are also a real factor in congregational decline, with the birthrate for mainline Protestants well below what is needed to maintain membership numbers.^[100]

The Barna Group, an Evangelical surveyor, has noted that Protestant pastors who serve mainline churches serve on average half as long as Protestant pastors in non-mainline churches.^[96] This may contribute to decline and may be influenced in part by the United Methodist Church practice of Itinerancy, where clergy are intentionally moved from one church to another as often as yearly in an effort to support and encourage the United Methodist tradition of strong lay ministry. Mainline churches have also had difficulty attracting minorities, particularly Hispanics. As of 2024, Hispanics comprise 6 percent of the mainline population but 19.5 percent of the US population.^[101]^[102] According to the Barna Group report, the failure of mainline Protestants to add substantial numbers of Hispanics is portent for the future, given both the rapid increase of the Hispanic population as well as the outflow of Hispanics from Catholicism to Protestant churches in the past decade, most of whom are selecting evangelical or Pentecostal Protestant churches.^[96]

One of the largest factors in the decline of both mainline and other forms of Protestant churches is the rapid rise of non-denominational Christianity, which is almost entirely Protestant. In 1972, fewer than 3% of Americans identified as non-denominational, while over 13% do in 2020, nearly half of the population of Americans that no longer identify with mainline Protestantism. As of 2020, non-denominational Christians made up the second largest religious tradition in the United States after Catholics, even ahead of traditionally conservative denominations with steadier membership rates.^[103] Factors attributed to this trend include:

The overtly evangelistic tradition of non-denominational churches, which gained over 9,000 congregations between 2010 and 2020 even while other denominations maintained or lost congregations.^[104]
Defections of entire congregations instead of simple church planting, which tends to take longer to gain members. Data shows that between 2005 and 2015, over 8,000 established churches (primarily of Southern Baptist Convention persuasion but relatively split between denominations as a whole) chose to unaffiliate with their churches and become independent.^[105]
The rise of nondenominational publishers and parachurch organizations whose content tend to culturally dominate large swaths of the Protestant community regardless of denomination.^[104]
Political disagreement with the growing cultural progressivism of mainline Protestantism, which has led to both a large rise in nondenominational Christians and schisms within several of the mainline Protestant churches.^[105]

Contrast with other Protestant denominations

While various Protestant denominations have experienced declining membership, the most pronounced changes have occurred among mainline churches. Demographic trends for evangelical and historically African-American churches have been more stable. According to the Pew Research Center, mainline denominations could claim 11.5 percent of all US adults, compared to 23.1 percent who identified as evangelical in 2024.^[95]^[106]

Demographers Hout, Greeley, and Wilde have attributed the long-term decline in mainline membership and the concomitant growth in the conservative Protestant denominations to four basic causes: birth rates; switching to conservative denominations; departure from Protestantism to "no religion" (i.e. secularization); and conversions from non-Protestant sources.Template:Sfn In their analysis, by far the main cause is birth rates—low for the mainline bodies, and high for the conservatives. The second most important factor is that fewer conservatives switch to mainline denominations than before. Despite speculation to the contrary, Hout, Greeley, and Wilde argue that switching from a mainline to a conservative denomination is not important in accounting for the trend, because it is fairly constant over the decades. Finally, conservative denominations have had a greater inflow of converts.Template:Sfn Their analysis gives no support for the notion that theological or social conservatism or liberalism has much impact on long-term growth trends.Template:Sfn

Evidence from the General Social Survey indicates that higher fertility and earlier childbearing among women from conservative denominations explains 76% of the observed trend: conservative denominations have grown their own. Mainline denomination members have the lowest birthrate among American Christian groups. Unless there is a surge of new members, rising death rates are predicted to diminish their ranks even further in the years ahead.^[72]

Trends

File:Forest Hills Gardens, Queens, NY.jpg

Forest Hills, Queens in New York City area is an affluent area with a population of wealthy mainline Protestants.

Some other findings:

From 1958 to 2008, mainline church membership dropped by more than one-quarter to roughly 20 million people—15 percent of all American adults.^[96]
From 1998 to 2008, there was a 22 percent drop in the percentage of adults attending mainline congregations who have children under the age of 18 living in their home.^[96]
In 2009, nearly 40 percent of mainline church attendees were single. This increase has been driven higher by a rise in the number of divorced and widowed adherents.^[96]
From 1998 to 2008, volunteerism dropped 21 percent; adult Sunday school participation decreased 17 percent.^[96]
The average age of a mainline pastor in 1998 was 48 and increased to 55 by 2009.^[96]
Pastors on average remain with a congregation for four years compared to twice that length for non-mainline church leaders.^[96]
The decline in mainline Protestant identification has been so steep that Evangelical identification has risen among Protestants, even as it has declined among all U.S. adults.^[95]

The Pew Research Center's 2023-2024 Religious Landscape Study provide additional explanations for the decline.

Evangelical church members are younger than those in mainline denominations. 14 percent of evangelical congregations are between 18 and 29 (compared to 11 percent of mainline protestants), 30 percent between 30 and 49 (versus 24), 28 percent between 50 and 64 (versus 27), and 27 percent 65 or older (versus 38).^[107]

Not paralleling the decline in membership is the household income of members of mainline denominations. Overall, it is higher than that of evangelicals:

25% reported less than a $30,000 income per year.
21% reported $30,000–$49,999 per year.
18% reported $50,000–$74,999 per year.
15% reported $75,000–$99,999 per year.
21% reported an income of $100,000 per year or more, compared to 13 percent of evangelicals.Template:Sfn

History

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File:First Parish in Hingham MA.jpg

Old Ship Church, an old Puritan meetinghouse currently used by a Unitarian Universalist congregation

While the term "mainline" was not applied to churches until the 20th century, mainline churches trace their history to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. The largest and most influential Protestant denominations in Britain's Thirteen Colonies were the Anglicans (after the American Revolution called Episcopalians) and the Congregationalists (from which the Unitarians would later split).Template:Sfn These were later surpassed in size and influence by other Protestants: the Baptists, Presbyterians and Methodists. Sharing a common Reformation heritage with Episcopal and Congregational churches, these denominations together created the mainline.Template:Sfn It was, according to historian Jason Lantzer, "the emerging evangelical movement that would help forge the Seven Sisters and which provides a core to the wide variety of theological and doctrinal differences, shaping them into a more coherent whole."Template:Sfn

The Great Awakening ignited controversy within Protestant churches between Old Lights and New Lights (or Old Side and New Side among Presbyterians). Led by figures such as the Congregationalist minister Charles Chauncy, Old Lights opposed the evangelical revivalism at the heart of the Awakening, while New Lights, led by fellow Congregationalist minister Jonathan Edwards, supported the revivals and argued for the importance of having a conversion experience. By the 1800s, Chauncy's followers had drifted toward forms of theological liberalism, such as Universalism, Unitarianism and Transcendentalism.Template:Sfn

File:Lady Chapel Altar, Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania).jpg

Lady Chapel in Church of the Good Shepherd, a 19th-century Anglo-Catholic Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania

The Second Great Awakening would inaugurate a period of evangelical dominance within American mainline Protestantism that would last over a century.Template:Sfn The Second Great Awakening was a catalyst for the reform of society. Efforts to improve the rights of women, reforming prisons, establishing free public schools, prohibiting alcohol, and (in the North) abolishing slavery were promoted by mainline churches.Template:Sfn

After the Civil War, however, tensions between evangelicals and non-evangelicals would re-emerge. As the practice of historical criticism spread to the United States, conflict over biblical inspiration erupted within Protestant churches. Conservative Protestants led by A. A. Hodge, B. B. Warfield and other Princeton theologians argued for biblical inerrancy, while liberal theologians such as Charles A. Briggs of Union Theological Seminary were open to using historical criticism to understand the Bible.Template:Sfn

As 19th–century evangelicals embraced dispensational premillennialism and retreated from society in the face of mounting social problems caused by industrialization, urbanization and immigration, liberal Protestants embraced the Social Gospel, which worked for the "regeneration of society" rather than only the conversion of individuals.Template:Sfn

The Fundamentalist–Modernist Controversy of the 1920s widened the division between evangelical and non-evangelical Protestants as the two sides fought for control over the mainline denominations. The fundamentalists lost these battles for control to the modernists or liberals.Template:Sfn Since the 1920s, mainline churches have been associated with liberal Protestantism.Template:Sfn

Episcopalians and Presbyterian WASPs tend to be considerably wealthier^[108] and better educated than most other religious groups in America,^[109] and are disproportionately represented in the upper reaches of American business,Template:Sfn law and politics, and for many years were especially dominant in the Republican Party.Template:Sfn Numbers of the wealthiest and most affluent American families, such as the Vanderbilts and Astors, Rockefeller, who were Baptists,^[110] Du Pont, Roosevelt, Forbes, Fords,^[110] Mellons,^[110] Whitneys, the Morgans and Harrimans are Episcopalian and Presbyterian families.^[108]

Through the 1940s and 1950s, neo-orthodoxy had become the prevailing theological approach within the mainline churches. This neo-orthodox consensus, however, gave way to resurgent liberal theologies in the 1960s and to liberation theology during the 1970s.Template:Sfn

Recent history

Mainline Protestants were a majority of Protestants in the United States until the mid-20th century. A dip in membership across all Christian denominations was more pronounced among mainline groups, with the result that mainline groups no longer comprise the majority.^[111] In 2020, Public Religion Research Institute conducted a religious census, based on self-identification, finding that an estimated 16% of U.S. Americans identified as non-Hispanic white mainline Protestants, slightly outnumbering non-Hispanic white evangelical Protestants who were 14% of the American population.^[112]^[113] In 2014, Pew Research completed and published the Religious Landscape Survey in which it was estimated that 14.7% of American adults identified as mainline Protestant, excluding historically Black and African American denominations, while 25.4% identified as evangelical Protestants, also excluding membership in historically Black denominations.^[114] In 2025, Pew Research published an updated Religious Landscape Survey, finding that 11% of American adults identified as mainline Protestant while 23% identified as evangelical Protestants.^[115]

Mainline churches share an active approach to social issues that often leads to cooperation in organizations such as the National Council of Churches.Template:Sfn Because of their involvement with the ecumenical movement, mainline churches are sometimes (especially outside the United States) given the alternative label of ecumenical Protestantism.Template:Sfn These churches played a leading role in the Social Gospel movement and were active in social causes such as the civil rights movement and the women's movement.^[116] As a group, the mainline churches have maintained religious doctrine that stresses social justice and personal salvation.^[106] Members of mainline denominations have played leadership roles in politics, business, science, the arts, and education. They were involved in the founding of leading institutes of higher education.Template:Sfn Marsden argues that in the 1950s, "Mainline Protestant leaders were part of the liberal-moderate cultural mainstream, and their leading spokespersons were respected participants in the national conversation."Template:Sfn

Some mainline Protestant denominations have the highest proportion of graduate and post-graduate degrees of any other denomination in the United States.^[117] Some also include the highest proportion of those with some college education, such as the Episcopal Church (76%),^[117] the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (64%),^[117] and the United Church of Christ (46%),Template:Sfnm as well as most of the American upper class.^[117] compared with the nationwide average of 50%.^[117] Episcopalians and Presbyterians also tend to be considerably wealthier^[118] and better educated than most other religious groups,Template:Sfn and they were disproportionately represented in the upper reaches of US business and law until the 1950s.Template:Sfn

In the 1990s four of the US Supreme Court Justices were Mainline Protestants: Sandra Day O'Connor, John Paul Stevens, William Rehnquist and David Souter.

From 1854 until at least 1964, Mainline Protestants and their descendants were heavily Republican.Template:Sfn In recent decades, Republicans slightly outnumber Democrats.Template:Sfn

From 1965 to 1988, mainline church membership declined from 31 million to 25 million, then fell to 21 million in 2005.Template:Sfnm While in 1970 the mainline churches claimed most Protestants and more than 30 percent of the population as members,Template:Sfn today they are a minority among Protestants; in 2009, only 15 percent of Americans were adherents.^[96] A Pew Forum statistic revealed the same share in 2014.^[119]

Conservative factions

Recent efforts from theological conservatives have resisted the liberal drift of Mainline churches.^[120] Through social media, Confessing Movement groups within the Mainline denominations like Redeemed Zoomer's "Operation Reconquista" have evangelized a conservative perspective to Generation Z.^[121]

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

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↑ "A statistical profile 2023", United Church of Christ
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↑ "Panorama de las religiones en México 2010"
↑ Consejo
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↑ Aaron Earls, Southern Baptists grow in attendance and baptisms, decline in membership, baptistpress.com, USA, May 9, 2023
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↑ Ron Rhodes, The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations, Harvest House, 2007
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↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Struckmeyer, Kurt. "Mainline Christianity. " Following Jesus Web: 13 Dec 2009
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-{{short description|Older, more establishment Protestant denominations}}
+{{short description|Historic established Protestant denominations}}
-{{Not to be confused with|Mainstream Christianity}}[[File:Methodistcommunion2.jpg|thumb|[[Eucharist]] observed by a congregation of the [[United Methodist Church]], a typical mainline Protestant denomination and one of the "Seven Sisters of [[Protestantism in the United States|American Protestantism]]".]]
+{{Not to be confused with|Mainstream Christianity}}[[File:Methodistcommunion2.jpg|thumb|[[Eucharist]] observed by a congregation of the [[United Methodist Church]], a typical mainline Protestant denomination and one of the "Seven Sisters of [[Protestantism in the United States|American Protestantism]]"]]
 The '''mainline Protestants''' (sometimes also known as '''oldline Protestants'''){{sfnm |1a1=Hadaway |1a2=Marler |1y=2006 |1pp=3–4 |2a1=Roozen |2y=2004}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Barrick |first=Audrey |date=March 12, 2010 |title=Survey Tracks Trends in Evangelical, Oldline Congregations |newspaper=[[The Christian Post]]  |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/survey-offers-in-depth-look-at-evangelical-oldline-congregations-44257/#4fDUo5HxXQIzQGTl.99 |access-date=October 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=McKinney |first=William |title=Revisioning the Future of Oldline Protestantism |newspaper=[[The Christian Century]] |volume=106 |issue=33 |pages=1014–1016 |url=http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=204 |date=November 8, 1989 |access-date=October 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118113011/http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=204 |archive-date=January 18, 2017  }}</ref> are a group of [[Protestantism in the United States|Protestant denominations in the United States]] and [[Protestantism in Canada|Canada]] largely of the [[Liberal Christianity|theologically liberal]] or [[Progressive Christianity|theologically progressive]] persuasion that contrast in history and practice with the largely theologically conservative [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]], [[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist]], [[Charismatic Christianity|charismatic]], [[Confessionalism (religion)|confessional]], [[Confessing Movement]], historically [[Black church]], and [[Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches|Global South]] Protestant denominations and congregations.<ref name="Jnanada Prakashan-2009" /><ref name="Seitz-2001" /><ref name="Burton-2018">{{Cite web |last=Burton |first=Tara Isabella |date=2018-11-05 |title=Why this shrinking religious group might be among America's last "swing voters" |url=https://www.vox.com/2018/11/5/18058768/white-mainline-protestantism-religion-america-midterms-trump |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=Vox |language=en}}</ref>{{Sfn|Marty|1980|pp=8|p=|ps=: "the term 'Mainline' may be as unfortunate as the pejorative-sounding WASP, but it is no more likely to fall into disuse and may as well be … Mainline religion had meant simply white Protestant until well into the twentieth century."}}{{Sfn|Coalter|Mulder|Weeks|1990|p=|ps=: "Some would say the term 'mainstream' or 'mainline' is itself suspect and embodies ethnocentric and elitist assumptions. ... be dropped in favor of talking about 'liberal' Protestantism, but such a change presents additional problems".}} Some make a distinction between "mainline" and "oldline", with the former referring only to denominational ties and the latter referring to church lineage, prestige and influence.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=William B. |date=October 11, 2013 |title=Mainline Churches: Past, Present, Future |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-b-bradshaw/mainline-churches-past-pr_b_4087407.html |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |access-date=October 3, 2016}}</ref> However, this distinction has largely been lost to history and the terms are now nearly synonymous.
-Mainline Protestant churches have stressed [[social justice]] and personal [[salvation]] and, both [[Social liberalism|politically]] and [[Liberal Christianity|theologically]], tend to be more liberal than non-mainline Protestant churches. Mainline Protestant churches share a common approach that often leads to collaboration in organizations such as the [[National Council of Churches]], and because of their involvement with the [[ecumenical movement]], they are sometimes given the alternative label of "ecumenical Protestantism" (especially outside the United States).{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} While in 1970 the mainline Protestant churches claimed most Protestants and more than 30 percent of the American population as members, {{as of|2009|lc=y}} they were a minority among American Protestants, claiming approximately 15 percent of American adults.{{update needed|date=May 2025}}
+Mainline Protestant churches have stressed [[social justice]] and personal [[salvation]] and, both [[Social liberalism|politically]] and [[Liberal Christianity|theologically]], tend to be more liberal than non-mainline Protestant churches. Mainline Protestant churches share a common approach that often leads to collaboration in organizations such as the [[National Council of Churches]], and because of their involvement with the [[ecumenical movement]], they are sometimes given the alternative label of '''ecumenical Protestantism''' (especially outside the United States). While in 1970 the mainline Protestant churches claimed most Protestants and more than 30 percent of the American population as members, {{as of|2009|lc=y}} they were a minority among American Protestants, claiming approximately 15 percent of American adults. In 2024, approximately 13.1% of Americans were white non-Hispanic mainline Protestants according to the [[Public Religion Research Institute|Public Religion Research Institute's]] ''Census of American Religion.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-05 |title=2024 PRRI Census of American Religion |url=https://prri.org/spotlight/2024-prri-census-of-american-religion/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=PRRI |language=en-US}}</ref>
+Notable examples of modern-day denominations in the Mainline tradition include the United Methodists, the Episcopalians, and the United Church of Christ (not to be confused with the Churches of Christ).
 ==Terminology==
 The term ''mainline Protestant'' was coined during [[Fundamentalist–Modernist Controversy|debates between modernists and fundamentalists in the 1920s]].{{Sfn | Walsh | 2000| pp=40| p = |ps = : "The term 'mainline Protestant' was coined during the modernist/ fundamentalist debates of the 1920s."}} Several sources claim that the term is derived from the [[Philadelphia Main Line]], a group of affluent suburbs of Philadelphia; most residents belonged to mainline denominations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~dml1/wjreviews.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927025143/http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~dml1/wjreviews.html|title=Lindsay, D. Michael. "Faith in the Halls of Power"|archive-date=September 27, 2011}}</ref> Today, most mainline Protestants remain rooted in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. C. Kirk Hadaway and Penny Long Marler define the term as follows: "the term 'mainline Protestant' is used along with 'mainstream Protestant' and 'oldline Protestant' to categorize denominations that are affiliated with the National Council of Churches and have deep historical roots in and long-standing influence on American society."{{Sfn | Hadaway | Marler | 2006 | pp=3–4}}
-In the US, Protestantism is generally divided between mainline denominations and [[Evangelicalism in the United States|evangelical]] or [[Conservative Christianity|theologically conservative]] denominations. In other parts of the world, the term ''mainline Protestant'' is not used. Instead, the term "[[ecumenical]]" is used to distinguish similar churches from evangelical denominations.{{Sfn | Hutcheson | 1981 | p = 27}} Some have criticized the term ''mainline'' for its alleged [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestants|White Anglo-Saxon Protestant]] ethnocentric and elitist assumptions, and its erroneous association with the term "mainstream" since it almost exclusively described [[White Americans|White American]], non-[[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] and non-[[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] Protestant Americans from its origin to the late twentieth century.{{Sfn | Marty | 1980 | pp=8 | p = | ps = : "the term 'Mainline' may be as unfortunate as the pejorative-sounding WASP, but it is no more likely to fall into disuse and may as well be … Mainline religion had meant simply white Protestant until well into the twentieth century."}}{{Sfn | Coalter | Mulder | Weeks | 1990 | p = | ps = : "Some would say the term 'mainstream' or 'mainline' is itself suspect and embodies ethnocentric and elitist assumptions. ... be dropped in favor of talking about 'liberal' Protestantism, but such a change presents additional problems".}}<ref name="Jnanada Prakashan-2009" /><ref name="Burton-2018"/>
+In the US, Protestantism is generally divided between mainline denominations and [[Evangelicalism in the United States|evangelical]] or [[Conservative Christianity|theologically conservative]] denominations. The term is also occasionally used to refer to historic Protestant churches in Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Latin America, and South Africa.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Haskell |first1=David Millard |last2=Flatt |first2=Kevin N. |last3=Burgoyne |first3=Stephanie |date=2016 |title=Theology Matters: Comparing the Traits of Growing and Declining Mainline Protestant Church Attendees and Clergy |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26378379 |journal=Review of Religious Research |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=515–541 |doi=10.1007/s13644-016-0255-4 |jstor=26378379 |issn=0034-673X}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chan |first=Shun-hing |date=2021 |title=The Political Influence of Mainline Protestant Churches in Hong Kong |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/48635898 |journal=China Review |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=225–258 |jstor=48635898 |issn=1680-2012}}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> The term has also been applied globally by researchers at [[Durham University]].<ref name=":6" /> In some other parts of the world, the term ''mainline Protestant'' is not used. Instead, the term "[[ecumenical]]" is used to distinguish similar churches from evangelical denominations.{{Sfn | Hutcheson | 1981 | p = 27}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nurser |first=Canon John |date=2003 |title=The "Ecumenical Movement" Churches, "Global Order," and Human Rights: 1938-1948 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20069697 |journal=Human Rights Quarterly |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=841–881 |doi=10.1353/hrq.2003.0049 |jstor=20069697 |issn=0275-0392}}</ref> Some have criticized the term ''mainline'' for its alleged [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestants|White Anglo-Saxon Protestant]] ethnocentric and elitist assumptions, and its erroneous association with the term "mainstream" since it almost exclusively described [[White Americans|White American]], non-[[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] and non-[[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] Protestant Americans from its origin to the late twentieth century.{{Sfn | Marty | 1980 | pp=8 | p = | ps = : "the term 'Mainline' may be as unfortunate as the pejorative-sounding WASP, but it is no more likely to fall into disuse and may as well be … Mainline religion had meant simply white Protestant until well into the twentieth century."}}{{Sfn | Coalter | Mulder | Weeks | 1990 | p = | ps = : "Some would say the term 'mainstream' or 'mainline' is itself suspect and embodies ethnocentric and elitist assumptions. ... be dropped in favor of talking about 'liberal' Protestantism, but such a change presents additional problems".}}<ref name="Jnanada Prakashan-2009" /><ref name="Burton-2018"/>
 ===''Mainline'' vs. ''mainstream''===
-The term ''mainstream Christian'' in academic usage is not equivalent to ''mainline Protestant'' and is often used as an attempt to find impartial sociological vocabulary in distinguishing ''[[Orthodoxy#Christianity|orthodoxy]]'' and ''[[Heresy in Christianity|heresy]]''.{{sfn|Dunderberg|2008|pp=18–19|ps=: "with theological meaning, such as replacing 'orthodoxy' with 'mainstream Christianity' and 'heresy' with terms like 'sect,' 'splinter group,' or something similar. These designations may create the impression of greater neutrality and ..."}} Hence in Christological and doctrinal reference ''[[mainstream Christianity]]'' is often equivalent to ''[[Trinitarianism]]''. Mainline Protestantism should not be confused with [[Nicene Christianity]] which is more widely accepted as having the "mainstream Christianity" designation that also includes [[Catholic Church|Catholics]], [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern]] and [[Oriental Orthodox Churches|Oriental Orthodox]] believers, and non-Mainline Protestants such as [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]], [[Christian fundamentalism|Fundamentalist]], [[Charismatic Christianity|Charismatic]], [[Confessionalism (religion)|Confessional]], [[Confessing Movement]], the historically [[Black church]], and [[Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches|Global South]] [[Protestantism|Protestants]].<ref name="Jnanada Prakashan-2009">{{cite book |title=World Encyclopaedia of Interfaith Studies: World religions |date=2009 |publisher=Jnanada Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7139-280-3 |language=English |quote=In the most common sense, "mainstream" refers to Nicene Christianity, or rather the traditions which continue to claim adherence to the Nicene Creed.}}</ref><ref name="Seitz-2001">{{Cite book |last=Seitz |first=Christopher R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X9pVAAAAYAAJ&q=Nicene+Christianity |title=Nicene Christianity: The Future for a New Ecumenism |date=2001 |publisher=Brazos Press |isbn=978-1-84227-154-4 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Burton-2018" />{{Sfn|Marty|1980|pp=8|p=|ps=: "the term 'Mainline' may be as unfortunate as the pejorative-sounding WASP, but it is no more likely to fall into disuse and may as well be … Mainline religion had meant simply white Protestant until well into the twentieth century."}}{{Sfn|Coalter|Mulder|Weeks|1990|p=|ps=: "Some would say the term 'mainstream' or 'mainline' is itself suspect and embodies ethnocentric and elitist assumptions. ... be dropped in favor of talking about 'liberal' Protestantism, but such a change presents additional problems".}} In the United Kingdom and Australia, the term ''mainline Protestant'' is not used, and ''mainstream'' does not mean ''progressive'' Protestant. Although some supporters and adherents do claim that Mainline Protestant is synonymous with Mainstream Protestant.{{Sfn|Moorhead|1999|pp=xxii, 241}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Joe |title=9 Things You Should Know About Mainline Protestantism |url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/know-mainline-protestantism/ |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=The Gospel Coalition |date=17 July 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>
+The term ''mainstream Christian'' in academic usage is not equivalent to ''mainline Protestant'' and is often used as an attempt to find impartial sociological vocabulary in distinguishing ''[[Orthodoxy#Christianity|orthodoxy]]'' and ''[[Heresy in Christianity|heresy]]''.{{sfn|Dunderberg|2008|pp=18–19|ps=: "with theological meaning, such as replacing 'orthodoxy' with 'mainstream Christianity' and 'heresy' with terms like 'sect,' 'splinter group,' or something similar. These designations may create the impression of greater neutrality and ..."}} Hence in Christological and doctrinal reference ''[[mainstream Christianity]]'' is often equivalent to ''[[Trinitarianism]]''. Mainline Protestantism should not be confused with [[Nicene Christianity]] which is more widely accepted as having the "mainstream Christianity" designation that also includes [[Catholic Church|Catholics]], [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern]] and [[Oriental Orthodox Churches|Oriental Orthodox]] believers, and non-Mainline Protestants such as [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]], [[Christian fundamentalism|Fundamentalist]], [[Charismatic Christianity|Charismatic]], [[Confessionalism (religion)|Confessional]], [[Confessing Movement]], the historically [[Black church]], and [[Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches|Global South]] [[Protestantism|Protestants]].<ref name="Jnanada Prakashan-2009">{{cite book |title=World Encyclopaedia of Interfaith Studies: World religions |date=2009 |publisher=Jnanada Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7139-280-3 |language=English |quote=In the most common sense, "mainstream" refers to Nicene Christianity, or rather the traditions which continue to claim adherence to the Nicene Creed.}}</ref><ref name="Seitz-2001">{{Cite book |last=Seitz |first=Christopher R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X9pVAAAAYAAJ&q=Nicene+Christianity |title=Nicene Christianity: The Future for a New Ecumenism |date=2001 |publisher=Brazos Press |isbn=978-1-84227-154-4 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Burton-2018" />{{Sfn|Marty|1980|pp=8|p=|ps=: "the term 'Mainline' may be as unfortunate as the pejorative-sounding WASP, but it is no more likely to fall into disuse and may as well be … Mainline religion had meant simply white Protestant until well into the twentieth century."}}{{Sfn|Coalter|Mulder|Weeks|1990|p=|ps=: "Some would say the term 'mainstream' or 'mainline' is itself suspect and embodies ethnocentric and elitist assumptions. ... be dropped in favor of talking about 'liberal' Protestantism, but such a change presents additional problems".}} In the United Kingdom and Australia, the term ''mainline Protestant'' is not always used, and ''mainstream'' does not mean ''progressive'' Protestant. Although some supporters and adherents do claim that Mainline Protestant is synonymous with Mainstream Protestant.{{Sfn|Moorhead|1999|pp=xxii, 241}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Joe |title=9 Things You Should Know About Mainline Protestantism |url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/know-mainline-protestantism/ |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=The Gospel Coalition |date=17 July 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>
 ==Denominations==
@@ Line 18: / Line 20: @@
 [[File:Augustana Lutheran Church - sign.JPG|thumb|upright=0.9|Augustana Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C., belonging to the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]]]]
 The largest mainline churches are sometimes referred to as the "Seven Sisters of American [[Protestantism]],"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.resourcingchristianity.org/Project.aspx?ID=850011 |title=Protestant Establishment I (Craigville Conference) |access-date=2006-09-22  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928035636/http://www.resourcingchristianity.org/Project.aspx?ID=850011 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 }}</ref> a term apparently coined by William Hutchison.{{sfn|Hutchison|1989}} The "Seven Sisters" are:
-* [[United Methodist Church]] (UMC) is the largest mainline Protestant denomination among the "Seven Sisters" with 5.4 million members in the United States in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.umdata.org/statistics|title=Statistics for 2022|publisher=General Council on Finance and Administration – The United Methodist Church|access-date=April 20, 2024}}</ref>
+* [[United Methodist Church]] (UMC) is the largest mainline Protestant denomination among the "Seven Sisters" with nearly 5.04 million members in the United States in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UMData {{!}} Statistics |url=https://www.umdata.org/statistics |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=www.umdata.org}}</ref>
-* [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] (ELCA) is the second largest mainline denomination with approximately 2.8 million members and 8,500 congregations at the end of 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title=Summary of Congregational Statistics as of 12/31/2023|url=https://elcamediaresources.blob.core.windows.net/cdn/wp-content/uploads/Summary_of_Congregational_Statistics_as_of_12-31-2023.pdf|website=elca.org|publisher=Evangelical Lutheran Church in America|access-date=January 13, 2025}}</ref>
+* [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] (ELCA) is the second largest mainline denomination with approximately 2.7 million baptized members and 8,400 congregations at the end of 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title=Summary of Congregational Statistics as of 12/31/2024|url=https://elcamediaresources.blob.core.windows.net/cdn/wp-content/uploads/summary-of-congregational-statistics-as-of-12-31-24.pdf|website=elca.org|publisher=Evangelical Lutheran Church in America|access-date=August 3, 2025}}</ref>
 * [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]] (TEC) is third largest, with 1.6 million active baptized members,<ref>
 {{Citation|url=https://extranet.generalconvention.org/staff/files/download/32264|title=Baptized Members by Province and Diocese 2013-2022 (pdf)|publisher=The Episcopal Church|access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref> of whom 1.4 million members are located in the United States in 2022.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://extranet.generalconvention.org/staff/files/download/32278|title=FAST FACTS From Parochial Report Data 2022|publisher=The Episcopal Church|access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref>
-* [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]] (PC-USA) is the fourth largest mainline denomination, with 1.1 million active members in 8,700 congregations (2021).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcusa.org/news/2023/5/1/pcusa-church-membership-still-in-decline/|title=PC(USA) church membership still in decline|first=Rick |last=Jones |date=May 1, 2023|website=Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) }}</ref>
+* [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]] (PCUSA) is the fourth largest mainline denomination, with 1.1 million active members in 8,700 congregations (2021).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcusa.org/news/2023/5/1/pcusa-church-membership-still-in-decline/|title=PC(USA) church membership still in decline|first=Rick|last=Jones|date=May 1, 2023|website=Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)|access-date=August 11, 2023|archive-date=May 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501221300/https://www.pcusa.org/news/2023/5/1/pcusa-church-membership-still-in-decline/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-* [[American Baptist Churches USA]] (ABC-USA) is fifth in size, with approximately 1.1 million members (2017).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Summary-of-Denominational-Statistics-Year-End-2017.pdf|website=ABC USA |title=Summary of Denominational Statistics {{!}} Regional Giving and Church Statistics Reported for the Year Ending December 31, 2017 |date=December 2014|access-date=2017-07-09}}</ref>
+* [[American Baptist Churches USA]] (ABCUSA) is fifth in size, with approximately 1.1 million members (2017).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Summary-of-Denominational-Statistics-Year-End-2017.pdf|website=ABC USA |title=Summary of Denominational Statistics {{!}} Regional Giving and Church Statistics Reported for the Year Ending December 31, 2017 |date=December 2014|access-date=2017-07-09}}</ref>
 * [[United Church of Christ]] (UCC) is the sixth and has about 710,000 members in 2022.<ref>"[https://www.ucc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023statisticalreport.web_.pdf A statistical profile 2023]", United Church of Christ</ref>
 * [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)]] (DOC) is the seventh and has about 278,000 members as of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walton |first=Jeffrey |date=2023-09-14 |title=Disciples Suffer Massive Membership Drop Post-2019 |url=https://juicyecumenism.com/2023/09/14/dc-mainline/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Juicy Ecumenism |language=en-US}}</ref>
@@ Line 33: / Line 35: @@
 * [[Canadian Baptist Ministries]] 81,685 members<ref>Baptist World Alliance, [https://www.baptistworld.org/member-unions/ Members], baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023</ref>
 * [[Presbyterian Church in Canada]] 79,961 members (2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://presbyterian.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020-Records-and-Statistics.pdf|title=The presbyterian church in Canada - records and statistics - 2020|website=presbyterian.ca|access-date=2021-04-14}}</ref>
-* [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada]] 2,606 members<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/christian-church-disciples-of-christ-in-canada|title=Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada – World Council of Churches|website=oikoumene.org|date=January 1948 |language=en|access-date=2016-06-06}}</ref>
+* [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada]]{{Efn|The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada is both a region of the [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada]] and a national church with membership in the [[World Council of Churches]], [[Canadian Council of Churches]], and other ecumenical organizations.|name=DOC Canada}} 2,606 members<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/christian-church-disciples-of-christ-in-canada|title=Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada – World Council of Churches|website=oikoumene.org|date=January 1948 |language=en|access-date=2016-06-06}}</ref>
 The [[Association of Religion Data Archives]], [[Pew Research Center|Pew Research]], and other sources also consider these denominations, listed with adherents and members, to be mainline:<ref name="ardomain">{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/mainline.asp |title=Mainline protestant denominations |publisher=Thearda.com |access-date=2014-05-10 |archive-date=2014-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021231319/http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/mainline.asp  }}</ref>{{Sfn | Pew Research Center | 2015b | p = 108}}
@@ Line 42: / Line 44: @@
 * [[Church of the Brethren]] 87,181 members (2021)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Church of the Brethren membership below 90,000 |date=22 May 2023 |url=https://anabaptistworld.org/church-of-the-brethren-membership-below-90000/  |access-date=2023-12-23}}</ref>
 * [[International Council of Community Churches]] 69,276 members (2009)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_1313.asp |title=ICCC membership |publisher=Thearda.com |access-date=2014-05-10 |archive-date=2012-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115021833/http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_1313.asp  }}</ref>
-* [[National Association of Congregational Christian Churches]] 65,392 members (2002)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_1462.asp |title=NACCC membership |publisher=Thearda.com |access-date=2014-05-10 |archive-date=2012-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531022030/http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_1462.asp  }}</ref>{{efn|The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches is considered to be evangelical by Pew Research{{sfn|Pew Research Center|2015b|p=106}} while the Association of Religion Data Archives considered it to be mainline.}}
+* [[National Association of Congregational Christian Churches]] 65,392 members (2002)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_1462.asp |title=NACCC membership |publisher=Thearda.com |access-date=2014-05-10 |archive-date=2012-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531022030/http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_1462.asp  }}</ref>{{efn|The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches is considered to be evangelical by Pew Research{{sfn|Pew Research Center|2015b|p=106}} while the Association of Religion Data Archives considered it to be mainline.|name=NACCC}}
 * [[Alliance of Baptists]] 65,000 members<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ucc.org/free-religion-lawsuit-additional-plaintiffs06032014|title=UCC religious freedom lawsuit adds additional plaintiffs, defendants request stay|website=United Church of Christ|access-date=2016-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810121140/http://www.ucc.org/free-religion-lawsuit-additional-plaintiffs06032014|archive-date=2016-08-10}}</ref>
-* [[Moravian Church in North America]] 60,000 members<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.moravian.org/the-moravian-church/history/|title=A Brief History of the Moravian Church « The Moravian Church « Moravian Church of North America|website=moravian.org|access-date=2016-05-02}}</ref>
+* [[Moravian Church in North America]] 60,000 members<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.moravian.org/the-moravian-church/history/|title=A Brief History of the Moravian Church « The Moravian Church « Moravian Church of North America|website=moravian.org|access-date=2016-05-02|archive-date=2016-04-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416001315/http://www.moravian.org/the-moravian-church/history/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-* [[Metropolitan Community Church|Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches]] 15,666 members (2006)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_1142.asp |title=UFMCC membership |publisher=Thearda.com |access-date=2014-05-10}}</ref>
+* [[Metropolitan Community Church|Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches]] 15,666 members (2006)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_1142.asp |title=UFMCC membership |publisher=Thearda.com |access-date=2014-05-10 |archive-date=2012-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625090928/http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_1142.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 * [[Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] 12,000 members (2007)
-* [[Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church|Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad]] 8,000 members<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://atlanta.clclutheran.org/bibleclass/Lutheranchurches.pdf|title=A Brief History of the Lutheran Churches in America|last1=Lau|first1=David|last2=Mayhew|first2=Nathanael|website=atlanta.clclutheran.org|access-date=May 1, 2016}}</ref>
+* [[Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church|Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad]] 8,000 members<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://atlanta.clclutheran.org/bibleclass/Lutheranchurches.pdf|title=A Brief History of the Lutheran Churches in America|last1=Lau|first1=David|last2=Mayhew|first2=Nathanael|website=atlanta.clclutheran.org|access-date=May 1, 2016|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305204648/http://atlanta.clclutheran.org/bibleclass/Lutheranchurches.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 * [[Hungarian Reformed Church in America]] 6,080 members<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/hungarian-reformed-church-in-america|title=Hungarian Reformed Church in America – World Council of Churches|website=oikoumene.org|date=January 1958 |language=en|access-date=2016-05-02}}</ref>
 These same sources also consider "Mainline" other denominations outside the US, including:
 * [[Anglican Church of Mexico]] 100,000 members<ref name="mexico-anglican.org">{{Cite web |title=Quiénes Somos |language=es |trans-title=About Us |url=http://mexico-anglican.org/QuienesSomos.html |publisher=Anglican Church of Mexico |access-date=June 20, 2016  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008111317/http://mexico-anglican.org/QuienesSomos.html |archive-date=October 8, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cronica.com.mx/notas/2009/467560.html|title=Anglicanos mexicanos rechazan unirse a la Iglesia católica|website=cronica.com.mx|access-date=2016-06-20|quote=The Church claims this number of adherents or members, though it is most likely a much smaller percentage of this total, according to data provided by the Mexican Institute for Statistics and Geography (INEGI) which includes them among "other Protestants" in the traditional Protestant and Reformed church category. This is an "umbrella" category and includes a wide variety of churches and as a category has as adherents or members only slightly over 50,000 persons. The Anglican Church of Mexico has had a long history of overreporting its number of adherents or members as it received subsidies from the Episcopal Church in the U.S. (now TEC) depending on growth.|archive-date=2020-12-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219205914/http://www.cronica.com.mx/notas/2009/467560.html}}</ref><ref>[http://internet.contenidos.inegi.org.mx/contenidos/Productos/prod_serv/contenidos/espanol/bvinegi/productos/censos/poblacion/2010/panora_religion/religiones_2010.pdf "Panorama de las religiones en México 2010"]</ref><ref>Consejo</ref>
 * [[Mennonite Church Canada]] 31,000 members<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://home.mennonitechurch.ca/about|title=About Mennonite Church Canada {{!}} Mennonite Church Canada|website=home.mennonitechurch.ca|access-date=2016-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/2000/08/in-search-of-an-amish-church.aspx|title=In Search of an Amish Church|website=beliefnet.com|access-date=2016-06-06}}</ref>
-* The term is also occasionally used to refer to historic Protestant churches in Europe, Latin America, and South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=John |date=March 22, 2013 |title=The Rise of Liberal Religion |url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2013/03/the-rise-of-liberal-religion/ |work=The Anxious Bench |publisher=Patheos |access-date=June 28, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Masci |first=David |date=November 14, 2014 |title=Why has Pentecostalism grown so dramatically in Latin America? |url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/11/14/why-has-pentecostalism-grown-so-dramatically-in-latin-america/ |work=Fact Tank |publisher=Pew Research Center |access-date=June 28, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://communitas.co.za/vennote/savgg/savgg-artikels/mainline-protestantism-in-south-africa-and-modernity/|title=Mainline Protestantism in South Africa and modernity|date=2008-09-05|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title="Christians are a minority now, but that helps us start new conversations"|url=https://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/8076/christians-are-a-minority-now-but-that-helps-us-start-new-conversations|access-date=2021-07-20|website=Evangelical Focus|language=en}}</ref>
+* The term is also occasionally used to refer to historic Protestant churches in Europe, Latin America, and South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=John |date=March 22, 2013 |title=The Rise of Liberal Religion |url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2013/03/the-rise-of-liberal-religion/ |work=The Anxious Bench |publisher=Patheos |access-date=June 28, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Masci |first=David |date=November 14, 2014 |title=Why has Pentecostalism grown so dramatically in Latin America? |url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/11/14/why-has-pentecostalism-grown-so-dramatically-in-latin-america/ |work=Fact Tank |publisher=Pew Research Center |access-date=June 28, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://communitas.co.za/vennote/savgg/savgg-artikels/mainline-protestantism-in-south-africa-and-modernity/|title=Mainline Protestantism in South Africa and modernity|date=2008-09-05|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-28}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title="Christians are a minority now, but that helps us start new conversations"|url=https://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/8076/christians-are-a-minority-now-but-that-helps-us-start-new-conversations|access-date=2021-07-20|website=Evangelical Focus|language=en}}</ref> It has also been applied globally.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |title=Growth and decline in the Anglican communion: 1980 to the present |date=2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-4724-3364-0 |editor-last=Goodhew |editor-first=David |edition=First |series=Routledge contemporary ecclesiology |location=London New York |pages=61–2}}</ref>
 Historically African American denominations are usually categorized differently from evangelicals or mainline.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2017/7/14/15959682/evangelical-mainline-voting-patterns-trump|title=Mainline churches are emptying. The political effects could be huge.|work=Vox|access-date=2017-11-07}}</ref> However, in 2014 the ''[[Christian Century]]'' identified that these groups "fit the mainline description."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.christiancentury.org/article/2014-06/glory-days|title=Glory days? The myth of the mainline|work=The Christian Century|date=2014-07-02|access-date=2017-11-07|language=en}}</ref>
@@ Line 61: / Line 63: @@
 Though not listed as mainline in either the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] or the [[Pew Research Center|Pew Research]] classifications, two groups also appeal to this label.
 * The practices of the [[Community of Christ]] ([[Latter Day Saint movement]]) [with 250,000 adherentes]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Community of Christ and Consolidated Affiliates Consolidated Financial Report |date=December 31, 2020 |access-date=April 6, 2022 |url= https://s3.amazonaws.com/monkdev.mnk.26072/uploaded/a/0e13535791_1641229532_audit-report-for-fiscal-year-2020.pdf |archive-date=April 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407004257/https://s3.amazonaws.com/monkdev.mnk.26072/uploaded/a/0e13535791_1641229532_audit-report-for-fiscal-year-2020.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>) are typified as congruent with mainline Protestantism.<ref>{{Harvnb|Vanel|2017|pages=95, 108}}.</ref>{{sfn|Launius|1998|p=48}}
-* While no longer exclusively Christian, the [[Unitarian Universalist Association]] [with 211,000 adherents] considers itself to be mainline.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/01/unitarian-faith-growing-stronger-nationwide/1607243/|title=Unitarian faith growing nationwide|website=USA Today|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uua.org/lgbtq/witness/199573.shtml|title=Unitarian Universalist Affirmation of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender People {{!}} UUA.org|date=2012-08-21|website=UUA.org|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref>
+* While no longer exclusively Christian, the [[Unitarian Universalist Association]] [with 211,000 adherents] considers itself to be mainline.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/01/unitarian-faith-growing-stronger-nationwide/1607243/|title=Unitarian faith growing nationwide|website=USA Today|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uua.org/lgbtq/witness/199573.shtml|title=Unitarian Universalist Affirmation of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender People {{!}} UUA.org|date=2012-08-21|website=UUA.org|access-date=2016-06-03|archive-date=2016-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502192701/http://www.uua.org/lgbtq/witness/199573.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-Some denominations with similar names and historical ties to the Seven Sisters mainline groups are not considered mainline: The [[Southern Baptist Convention]] (SBC) [13.2 million],<ref>Aaron Earls, [https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/southern-baptists-grow-in-attendance-and-baptisms-decline-in-membership/ Southern Baptists grow in attendance and baptisms, decline in membership], baptistpress.com, USA, May 9, 2023</ref> [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]] (LCMS) [1.8 million],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://files.lcms.org/file/preview/DDCFD8B0-7812-4213-93D2-022A50CC2B94|title=LCMS Inc. Annual Report - 2021|access-date=20 June 2022}}</ref> the [[Churches of Christ]] and [[Christian churches and churches of Christ|Christian churches]] [1.1 million each],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.21stcc.com/pdfs/ccusa_stats_sheet.pdf |title=Churches of Christ in the United States |website=21st Century Christian |date=June 2020 |first=Carl H. |last=Royster |access-date=August 26, 2020 |archive-date=July 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729184935/https://www.21stcc.com/pdfs/ccusa_stats_sheet.pdf  }}</ref><ref>Ron Rhodes, ''The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations'', Harvest House, 2007</ref> the [[Presbyterian Church in America]] (PCA) [0.4 million],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcaac.org/resources/pca-statistics-five-year-summary/|title=PCA Statistics Five Year Summary|publisher=Pcaac.org|access-date=26 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027065335/http://www.pcaac.org/resources/pca-statistics-five-year-summary/|archive-date=27 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Anglican Church in North America]] (ACNA) [0.13 million],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://c119b78671d19b8aee34-1ab073aa91389396dfc8b6aabc9b141e.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/Provincial_Meeting_Journal_web.pdf |title=Anglican Church in North America |access-date=5 June 2016  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305032325/https://c119b78671d19b8aee34-1ab073aa91389396dfc8b6aabc9b141e.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/Provincial_Meeting_Journal_web.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2016  }}</ref> and the [[Conservative Congregational Christian Conference]] (CCCC) [0.04 million]. After the recent split of the UMC, the [[Global Methodist Church]] (GMC) could be added to this list, though no official census is currently known. Since these groups are too [[Conservative Christianity|theologically conservative]] to be considered mainline, those strictly adhering to historical [[Creed|rules of faith]] are grouped as [[Confessionalism_(religion)|confessional]], while those without are grouped as [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]].
+Some denominations with similar names and historical ties to the Seven Sisters mainline groups are not considered mainline: The [[Southern Baptist Convention]] (SBC) [13.2 million],<ref>Aaron Earls, [https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/southern-baptists-grow-in-attendance-and-baptisms-decline-in-membership/ Southern Baptists grow in attendance and baptisms, decline in membership], baptistpress.com, USA, May 9, 2023</ref> [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]] (LCMS) [1.7 million],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=2024 Annual Report |url=https://files.lcms.org/file/preview/annual-report-2024 |access-date=July 21, 2025 |website=Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod}}</ref> the [[Churches of Christ]] and [[Christian churches and churches of Christ|Christian churches]] [1.1 million each],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.21stcc.com/pdfs/ccusa_stats_sheet.pdf |title=Churches of Christ in the United States |website=21st Century Christian |date=June 2020 |first=Carl H. |last=Royster |access-date=August 26, 2020 |archive-date=July 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729184935/https://www.21stcc.com/pdfs/ccusa_stats_sheet.pdf  }}</ref><ref>Ron Rhodes, ''The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations'', Harvest House, 2007</ref> the [[Presbyterian Church in America]] (PCA) [0.4 million],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcaac.org/resources/pca-statistics-five-year-summary/|title=PCA Statistics Five Year Summary|publisher=Pcaac.org|access-date=26 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027065335/http://www.pcaac.org/resources/pca-statistics-five-year-summary/|archive-date=27 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Anglican Church in North America]] (ACNA) [0.13 million],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://c119b78671d19b8aee34-1ab073aa91389396dfc8b6aabc9b141e.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/Provincial_Meeting_Journal_web.pdf |title=Anglican Church in North America |access-date=5 June 2016  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305032325/https://c119b78671d19b8aee34-1ab073aa91389396dfc8b6aabc9b141e.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/Provincial_Meeting_Journal_web.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2016  }}</ref> and the [[Conservative Congregational Christian Conference]] (CCCC) [0.04 million]. After the recent split of the UMC, the [[Global Methodist Church]] (GMC) could be added to this list, though no official census is currently known. Since these groups are too [[Conservative Christianity|theologically conservative]] to be considered mainline, those strictly adhering to historical [[Creed|rules of faith]] are grouped as [[Confessionalism_(religion)|confessional]], while those without are grouped as [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]]. [[Institute on Religion and Democracy|The Institute on Religion and Democracy]] considers these denominations to be "mainline-adjacent" due to their origins in the mainline Protestant denominations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walton |first=Jeffrey |date=2023-09-14 |title=Disciples Suffer Massive Membership Drop Post-2019 |url=https://juicyecumenism.com/2023/09/14/dc-mainline/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Juicy Ecumenism |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walton |first=Jeffrey |date=2023-11-10 |title=Global Methodists and Anglicans: a Complementary Geography |url=https://juicyecumenism.com/2023/11/10/global-methodist-anglican/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Juicy Ecumenism |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walton |first=Jeff |date=2025-07-08 |title=Trinity Anglican Seminary Goes 'Whole Candlestick' |url=https://livingchurch.org/news/news-anglican-communion/trinity-anglican-seminary-goes-whole-candlestick/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=The Living Church |language=en-US}}</ref>
 ==Theology==
@@ Line 88: / Line 90: @@
 ===Abortion===
-The Episcopal Church (TEC), Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA), Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), and United Church of Christ (UCC) are members of the [[Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rcrc.org/homepage/about/coalition-council/|title=Coalition Members {{!}} Religious Coalition For Reproductive Choice|website=rcrc.org|access-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524170144/http://rcrc.org/homepage/about/coalition-council/|archive-date=2016-05-24}}</ref> The United Methodist Church (UMC) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) support exceptions, when abortion may be necessary, but do not endorse the procedure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/what-is-the-united-methodist-position-on-abortion|title=What is the United Methodist position on abortion? - The United Methodist Church|last=Communications|first=United Methodist|website=The United Methodist Church|access-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331123719/http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/what-is-the-united-methodist-position-on-abortion|archive-date=2018-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Statements/Abortion|title=Abortion|website=ELCA.org|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref> Other denominations, such as the Church of the Brethren and Mennonite Church USA,  are against abortion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.brethren.org/ac/statements/1984abortion.html|title=1984 Abortion|website=brethren.org|access-date=2016-06-15|archive-date=2016-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807135926/http://www.brethren.org/ac/statements/1984abortion.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-12-me-religbriefs12.5-story.html|title=Mennonites Approve Dual Policy on Abortion|last=Services|first=Times Wire|date=2003-07-12|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|access-date=2016-06-15}}</ref>
+The Episcopal Church (TEC), Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA), Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), and United Church of Christ (UCC) are members of the [[Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rcrc.org/homepage/about/coalition-council/|title=Coalition Members {{!}} Religious Coalition For Reproductive Choice|website=rcrc.org|access-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524170144/http://rcrc.org/homepage/about/coalition-council/|archive-date=2016-05-24}}</ref> The United Methodist Church (UMC) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) support exceptions, when abortion may be necessary, but do not endorse the procedure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/what-is-the-united-methodist-position-on-abortion|title=What is the United Methodist position on abortion? - The United Methodist Church|last=Communications|first=United Methodist|website=The United Methodist Church|access-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331123719/http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/what-is-the-united-methodist-position-on-abortion|archive-date=2018-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Statements/Abortion|title=Abortion|website=ELCA.org|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref> Other denominations, such as the Church of the Brethren and Mennonite Church USA, are against abortion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.brethren.org/ac/statements/1984abortion.html|title=1984 Abortion|website=brethren.org|access-date=2016-06-15|archive-date=2016-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807135926/http://www.brethren.org/ac/statements/1984abortion.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-12-me-religbriefs12.5-story.html|title=Mennonites Approve Dual Policy on Abortion|last=Services|first=Times Wire|date=2003-07-12|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|access-date=2016-06-15}}</ref>
 ===Human sexuality===
@@ Line 97: / Line 99: @@
 The American Baptist Churches USA allows each congregation the freedom to decide for itself.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/gay-marriage-mainline-denominations-affirm-scotus/|title=Gay marriage: mainline denominations affirm SCOTUS|website=Baptist Press|date=20 July 2015 |language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref> Some congregations of the Church of the Brethren have also voted to perform same-gender marriages although the national denomination opposes this practice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goshennews.com/news/goshen-church-votes-sunday-to-allow-same-sex-marriages/article_625255b6-2046-11e6-a47a-4b7081dc1cef.html|title=Goshen church votes Sunday to allow same-sex marriages|first=SHERRY|last=VAN ARSDALL|website=Goshen News|date=22 May 2016 |access-date=2016-06-15}}</ref>
-Including the aforementioned denominations,{{which|date=May 2025}} the Mennonite Church USA, Metropolitan Community Church, and Moravian Church Northern Province license or ordain openly gay clergy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mennoworld.org/2014/10/27/news/another-conference-to-license-gay-pastor/|title=Another conference to license gay pastor|date=2014-10-27|website=Mennonite World Review|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.moravian.org/northern-province-synod-2014/moravian-church-northern-province-synod-approves-ordination-of-gay-and-lesbian-pastors/|title=Moravian Church Northern Province Synod approves ordination of gay and lesbian pastors « Northern Province Synod 2014 « Moravian Church of North America|website=moravian.org|access-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603100010/http://www.moravian.org/northern-province-synod-2014/moravian-church-northern-province-synod-approves-ordination-of-gay-and-lesbian-pastors/|archive-date=2018-06-03}}</ref>
+The Mennonite Church USA, Metropolitan Community Church, and Moravian Church Northern Province license or ordain openly gay clergy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mennoworld.org/2014/10/27/news/another-conference-to-license-gay-pastor/|title=Another conference to license gay pastor|date=2014-10-27|website=Mennonite World Review|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.moravian.org/northern-province-synod-2014/moravian-church-northern-province-synod-approves-ordination-of-gay-and-lesbian-pastors/|title=Moravian Church Northern Province Synod approves ordination of gay and lesbian pastors « Northern Province Synod 2014 « Moravian Church of North America|website=moravian.org|access-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603100010/http://www.moravian.org/northern-province-synod-2014/moravian-church-northern-province-synod-approves-ordination-of-gay-and-lesbian-pastors/|archive-date=2018-06-03}}</ref> The Western Jurisdiction of the UMC also elected the denomination's first openly gay bishop in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/western-jurisdiction-elects-openly-gay-united-methodist-bishop|title=Western Jurisdiction elects openly gay United Methodist bishop - The United Methodist Church|last=Communications|first=United Methodist|website=The United Methodist Church|access-date=2016-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160718232123/http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/western-jurisdiction-elects-openly-gay-united-methodist-bishop|archive-date=2016-07-18}}</ref>
-While the UMC does not nationally ordain gay or lesbian clergy, the New York Annual Conference, a regional body of the UMC, has ordained the denomination's first openly gay and lesbian clergy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nyac.com/newsdetail/33-ordained-commissioned-by-new-york-conference-5012427|title=33 Ordained, Commissioned in "Historic" Service|website=nyac.com|access-date=2016-06-13}}</ref>{{clarification needed|date=May 2025}} The Western Jurisdiction of the UMC also elected the denomination's first openly gay bishop.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/western-jurisdiction-elects-openly-gay-united-methodist-bishop|title=Western Jurisdiction elects openly gay United Methodist bishop - The United Methodist Church|last=Communications|first=United Methodist|website=The United Methodist Church|access-date=2016-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160718232123/http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/western-jurisdiction-elects-openly-gay-united-methodist-bishop|archive-date=2016-07-18}}</ref>
+The ELCA, TEC, PC(USA), UCC, UUA, Anglican Church of Canada, ELCIC, and United Church of Canada also ordain openly transgender clergy; the United Methodist Church has allowed the ordination of openly transgender clergy since 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/12/02/religious-groups-policies-on-transgender-members-vary-widely/ |title=Religious groups' policies on transgender members vary widely |date=2015-12-02 |website=Pew Research Center |access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bartolone |first=Pauline |date=2007-10-30 |title=Methodists Vote to Keep Transgender Pastor |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/bryantpark/2007/10/methodists_vote_to_keep_transg.html |access-date=2025-08-15 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref>
-Most of the above denominations{{which|date=May 2025}} also ordain openly transgender clergy. While the national church has not approved of gay or lesbian clergy, the UMC has allowed transgender pastors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/12/02/religious-groups-policies-on-transgender-members-vary-widely/|title=Religious groups' policies on transgender members vary widely|date=2015-12-02|website=Pew Research Center|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref>
 ==Statistical decline==
@@ Line 107: / Line 107: @@
 The term "mainline" once implied a certain numerical majority or dominant presence in mainstream society, but that is no longer the case. Protestant churches as a whole have slowly declined in total membership since the 1960s. As the national population has grown these churches have shrunk from 63% of the population in 1970 to 54% by 2000, and 40% in 2024, ceasing to be the religious category for the majority of Americans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/|title=Pew Research Center 2014 Religious Landscape Survey|date=12 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fahmy |first=Gregory A. Smith, Alan Cooperman, Becka A. Alper, Besheer Mohamed, Chip Rotolo, Patricia Tevington, Justin Nortey, Asta Kallo, Jeff Diamant and Dalia |date=2025-02-26 |title=1. Religious identity |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/religious-landscape-study-religious-identity/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref> American affiliation with mainline denominations declined from 55% of all Protestants in 1973 to 29% in 2024.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Fahmy |first=Gregory A. Smith, Alan Cooperman, Becka A. Alper, Besheer Mohamed, Chip Rotolo, Patricia Tevington, Justin Nortey, Asta Kallo, Jeff Diamant and Dalia |date=2025-02-26 |title=1. Religious identity |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/religious-landscape-study-religious-identity/#a-detailed-look-at-the-size-of-protestant-denominations |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref> The number of mainline congregations in the U.S. declined from more than 80,000 churches in the 1950s to about 72,000 in 2008.<ref name="Barna">[http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/17-leadership/323-report-examines-the-state-of-mainline-protestant-churches Report Examines the State of Mainline Protestant Churches] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106134955/http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/17-leadership/323-report-examines-the-state-of-mainline-protestant-churches |date=2011-11-06 }} The Barna Group. December 7, 2009. Web: 12 Dec. 2009</ref> [[Robert Drinan]] estimated that there may have been a hundred million Mainline Protestants at one time in the United States.<ref name="k685">{{cite book | last=Drinan | first=R.F. | title=The Mobilization of Shame: A World View of Human Rights | publisher=Yale University Press | year=2001 | isbn=978-0-300-09319-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OFAmyfarr4C&pg=PA166 | access-date=2024-11-22 | page=166}}</ref>
-Various causes of mainline decline in population have been cited. Much analysis has taken place both from those within and outside mainline denominations. Key factors indicate that all types of churches can and do grow, regardless of hymnody or contemporary music, type of liturgy, average age of worshiper, or location<ref>{{cite web|title=MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT EVANGELISM AND CHURCH GROWTH|date=17 February 2014 |url=http://www.uscongregations.org/blog/2014/02/17/myths-and-facts-about-evangelism-and-church-growth/|publisher=USCLS U.S. Congregational Life Survey|access-date=May 15, 2015}}</ref> On average, however, churches in rural areas, churches with older congregants, and churches with fewer young people involved struggle most to add members and grow churches. For example, of all churches founded since 1993, 54% are experiencing growth, compared to 28% of congregations founded prior to 1900.{{sfn|Hadaway|2011}} As demographics change, the churches founded by earlier generations often struggle to adapt to changing conditions, including the declines or shifts in the age and ethnicity of local populations. Says David Roozen, Director of Hartford Seminary's Hartford Institute for Religion Research, "Location, Location, Location used to be the kind way that researchers described the extent to which the growth or decline of American congregations was captive to the demographic changes going on in their immediate neighborhoods."<ref>{{cite web|title=Facts on Growth: 2010: If Congregations Can Change, They Can Grow|url=http://www.faithcommunitiestoday.org/facts-growth-2010|website=Faith Communities Today|publisher=Cooperative Congregations Studies Partnership|access-date=May 15, 2015}}</ref> Age demographics are also a real factor in congregational decline, with the birthrate for mainline Protestants well below what is needed to maintain membership numbers.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gryboski|first1=Michael|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/united-methodist-church-continues-to-decline-in-america-but-gains-in-africa-79384/|title=United Methodist Church Continues to Decline in America, but Gains in Africa|website=Christian Post|date=3 August 2012 |publisher=The Christian Post|access-date=May 15, 2015}}</ref>
+Various causes of mainline decline in population have been cited. Much analysis has taken place both from those within and outside mainline denominations. Key factors indicate that all types of churches can and do grow, regardless of hymnody or contemporary music, type of liturgy, average age of worshiper, or location<ref>{{cite web|title=MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT EVANGELISM AND CHURCH GROWTH|date=17 February 2014 |url=http://www.uscongregations.org/blog/2014/02/17/myths-and-facts-about-evangelism-and-church-growth/|publisher=USCLS U.S. Congregational Life Survey|access-date=May 15, 2015}}</ref> On average, however, churches in rural areas, churches with older congregants, and churches with fewer young people involved struggle most to add members and grow churches. For example, of all churches founded since 1993, 54% are experiencing growth, compared to 28% of congregations founded prior to 1900.{{sfn|Hadaway|2011}} As demographics change, the churches founded by earlier generations often struggle to adapt to changing conditions, including the declines or shifts in the age and ethnicity of local populations. Says David Roozen, Director of Hartford Seminary's Hartford Institute for Religion Research, "Location, Location, Location used to be the kind way that researchers described the extent to which the growth or decline of American congregations was captive to the demographic changes going on in their immediate neighborhoods."<ref>{{cite web|title=Facts on Growth: 2010: If Congregations Can Change, They Can Grow|url=http://www.faithcommunitiestoday.org/facts-growth-2010|website=Faith Communities Today|publisher=Cooperative Congregations Studies Partnership|access-date=May 15, 2015|archive-date=April 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404012859/http://faithcommunitiestoday.org/facts-growth-2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> Age demographics are also a real factor in congregational decline, with the birthrate for mainline Protestants well below what is needed to maintain membership numbers.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gryboski|first1=Michael|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/united-methodist-church-continues-to-decline-in-america-but-gains-in-africa-79384/|title=United Methodist Church Continues to Decline in America, but Gains in Africa|website=Christian Post|date=3 August 2012 |publisher=The Christian Post|access-date=May 15, 2015}}</ref>
 The [[Barna Group]], an [[Evangelical]] surveyor, has noted that Protestant pastors who serve mainline churches serve on average half as long as Protestant pastors in non-mainline churches.<ref name="Barna" /> This may contribute to decline and may be influenced in part by the [[United Methodist Church]] practice of Itinerancy, where clergy are intentionally moved from one church to another as often as yearly in an effort to support and encourage the United Methodist tradition of strong lay ministry. Mainline churches have also had difficulty attracting minorities, particularly Hispanics. As of 2024, Hispanics comprise 6 percent of the mainline population but 19.5 percent of the US population.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fahmy |first=Gregory A. Smith, Alan Cooperman, Becka A. Alper, Besheer Mohamed, Chip Rotolo, Patricia Tevington, Justin Nortey, Asta Kallo, Jeff Diamant and Dalia |date=2025-02-26 |title=24. Age, race, education and other demographic traits of U.S. religious groups |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/age-race-education-and-other-demographic-traits-of-us-religious-groups/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Percentage of Hispanic population in the U.S. by state 2023 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/259865/percentage-of-hispanic-population-in-the-us-by-state/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref> According to the Barna Group report, the failure of mainline Protestants to add substantial numbers of Hispanics is portent for the future, given both the rapid increase of the Hispanic population as well as the outflow of Hispanics from Catholicism to Protestant churches in the past decade, most of whom are selecting evangelical or [[Pentecostal]] Protestant churches.<ref name="Barna" />
@@ Line 113: / Line 113: @@
 One of the largest factors in the decline of both mainline and other forms of Protestant churches is the rapid rise of [[non-denominational Christianity]], which is almost entirely Protestant. In 1972, fewer than 3% of Americans identified as non-denominational, while over 13% do in 2020, nearly half of the population of Americans that no longer identify with mainline Protestantism. As of 2020, non-denominational Christians made up the second largest religious tradition in the United States after [[Catholics]], even ahead of traditionally conservative denominations with steadier membership rates.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burge |first=Ryan |title=The Future of American Christianity is Non-Denominational |url=https://www.graphsaboutreligion.com/p/the-future-of-american-christianity |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=www.graphsaboutreligion.com |language=en}}</ref> Factors attributed to this trend include:
-* The overtly evangelistic tradition of non-denominational churches, which gained over 9,000 congregations between 2010 and 2020 even while other denominations maintained or lost congregations.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Silliman |first=Daniel |date=2022-11-16 |title=‘Nondenominational’ Is Now the Largest Segment of American Protestants |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/2022/11/religion-census-nondenominational-church-growth-nons/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=Christianity Today |language=en-US}}</ref>
+* The overtly evangelistic tradition of non-denominational churches, which gained over 9,000 congregations between 2010 and 2020 even while other denominations maintained or lost congregations.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Silliman |first=Daniel |date=2022-11-16 |title='Nondenominational' Is Now the Largest Segment of American Protestants |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/2022/11/religion-census-nondenominational-church-growth-nons/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=Christianity Today |language=en-US}}</ref>
-* Defections of entire congregations instead of simple church planting, which tends to take longer to gain members. Data shows that between 2005 and 2015, over 8,000 established churches (primarily of [[Southern Baptist Convention]] persuasion but relatively split between denominations as a whole) chose to unaffiliate with their churches and become independent.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Standard |first=Christian |date=2023-05-01 |title=A Movement Away from Denominationalism: What’s It Mean for Us? - Christian Standard |url=https://christianstandard.com/2023/05/a-movement-away-from-denominationalism-whats-it-mean-for-us/,%20https://christianstandard.com/2023/05/a-movement-away-from-denominationalism-whats-it-mean-for-us/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=christianstandard.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
+* Defections of entire congregations instead of simple church planting, which tends to take longer to gain members. Data shows that between 2005 and 2015, over 8,000 established churches (primarily of [[Southern Baptist Convention]] persuasion but relatively split between denominations as a whole) chose to unaffiliate with their churches and become independent.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Standard |first=Christian |date=2023-05-01 |title=A Movement Away from Denominationalism: What's It Mean for Us? - Christian Standard |url=https://christianstandard.com/2023/05/a-movement-away-from-denominationalism-whats-it-mean-for-us/,%20https://christianstandard.com/2023/05/a-movement-away-from-denominationalism-whats-it-mean-for-us/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=christianstandard.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
 * The rise of nondenominational publishers and parachurch organizations whose content tend to culturally dominate large swaths of the Protestant community regardless of denomination.<ref name=":1" />
 * Political disagreement with the growing cultural progressivism of mainline Protestantism, which has led to both a large rise in nondenominational Christians and schisms within several of the mainline Protestant churches.<ref name=":2" />
@@ Line 126: / Line 126: @@
 ====Trends====
-[[File:Forest Hills Gardens, Queens, NY.jpg|thumb|right|[[Forest Hills, Queens]] in [[New York City]] area is an affluent area with a population of wealthy mainline Protestants]]
+[[File:Forest Hills Gardens, Queens, NY.jpg|thumb|right|[[Forest Hills, Queens]] in [[New York City]] area is an affluent area with a population of wealthy mainline Protestants.]]
 Some other findings:
 * From 1958 to 2008, mainline church membership dropped by more than one-quarter to roughly 20 million people—15 percent of all American adults.<ref name="Barna" />
@@ Line 149: / Line 149: @@
 {{See also|History of Protestantism in the United States}}
 [[File:First Parish in Hingham MA.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Old Ship Church]], an old [[Puritan]] meetinghouse currently used by a [[Unitarian Universalist]] congregation]]
-While the term "mainline" was not applied to churches until the 20th century, mainline churches trace their history to the [[Protestant Reformation]] of the 16th century. The largest and most influential Protestant denominations in Britain's [[Thirteen Colonies]] were the [[Anglican]]s (after the American Revolution called Episcopalians) and the [[Congregationalism in the United States|Congregationalists]] (from which the [[American Unitarian Association|Unitarians]] would later split).{{Sfn | Lantzer | 2012 | p = 19}} These were later surpassed in size and influence by the evangelical denominations: the Baptists, Presbyterians and Methodists. Sharing a common Reformation heritage with Episcopal and Congregational churches, these denominations together created the mainline.{{Sfn | Lantzer | 2012 | p = 29}} It was, according to historian Jason Lantzer, "the emerging evangelical movement that would help forge the Seven Sisters and which provides a core to the wide variety of theological and doctrinal differences, shaping them into a more coherent whole."{{Sfn | Lantzer | 2012 | p = 19}}
+While the term "mainline" was not applied to churches until the 20th century, mainline churches trace their history to the [[Protestant Reformation]] of the 16th century. The largest and most influential Protestant denominations in Britain's [[Thirteen Colonies]] were the [[Anglican]]s (after the American Revolution called Episcopalians) and the [[Congregationalism in the United States|Congregationalists]] (from which the [[American Unitarian Association|Unitarians]] would later split).{{Sfn | Lantzer | 2012 | p = 19}} These were later surpassed in size and influence by other Protestants: the Baptists, Presbyterians and Methodists. Sharing a common Reformation heritage with Episcopal and Congregational churches, these denominations together created the mainline.{{Sfn | Lantzer | 2012 | p = 29}} It was, according to historian Jason Lantzer, "the emerging evangelical movement that would help forge the Seven Sisters and which provides a core to the wide variety of theological and doctrinal differences, shaping them into a more coherent whole."{{Sfn | Lantzer | 2012 | p = 19}}
 The [[Great Awakening]] ignited controversy within Protestant churches between [[Old and New Light|Old Lights and New Lights]] (or [[Old Side–New Side Controversy|Old Side and New Side]] among Presbyterians). Led by figures such as the Congregationalist minister [[Charles Chauncy (1705–1787)|Charles Chauncy]], Old Lights opposed the evangelical [[Christian revival|revivalism]] at the heart of the Awakening, while New Lights, led by fellow Congregationalist minister [[Jonathan Edwards (theologian)|Jonathan Edwards]], supported the revivals and argued for the importance of having a [[Religious conversion|conversion]] experience. By the 1800s, Chauncy's followers had drifted toward forms of theological liberalism, such as [[Universalism]], [[Unitarianism]] and [[Transcendentalism]].{{sfn|Balmer|Winner|2002|pp = 14-5}}
-[[File:Lady Chapel Altar, Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania).jpg|thumb|left|[[Lady Chapel]] in [[Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania)|Church of the Good Shepherd]], a 19th-Century [[Anglo-Catholic]] Episcopal Church in [[Pennsylvania]]]]
+[[File:Lady Chapel Altar, Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania).jpg|thumb|left|[[Lady Chapel]] in [[Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania)|Church of the Good Shepherd]], a 19th-century [[Anglo-Catholic]] Episcopal Church in [[Pennsylvania]]]]
 The [[Second Great Awakening]] would inaugurate a period of evangelical dominance within American mainline Protestantism that would last over a century.{{Sfn | Lantzer | 2012 | p = 29}} The Second Great Awakening was a catalyst for the reform of society. Efforts to improve the rights of women, reforming prisons, establishing free public schools, prohibiting alcohol, and (in the North) abolishing slavery were promoted by mainline churches.{{Sfn | Lantzer | 2012 | p = 31}}
@@ Line 181: / Line 181: @@
 ==== Conservative factions ====
-Recent efforts from [[Conservative Christianity|theological conservatives]] have resisted the liberal drift of Mainline churches.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hempel |first1=Lynn M. |last2=Bartkowski |first2=John |last3=Matthews |first3=Todd |date=2012 |title=Trust in a "Fallen World": The Case of Protestant Theological Conservatism |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41681809 |journal=Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion |volume=51 |issue=3 |pages=522–541 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-5906.2012.01662.x |jstor=41681809 |issn=0021-8294}}</ref> Through social media, conservative factions within the Mainline like [[Redeemed Zoomer]]'s "Operation Reconquista" have evangelized a conservative perspective to [[Generation Z]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Patrick |date=2023-11-08 |title=Meet the Zoomers' Martin Luther |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/11/meet-zoomers-martin-luther-mainline-reformation-project-onl/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=Christianity Today |language=en-US}}</ref>
+Recent efforts from [[Conservative Christianity|theological conservatives]] have resisted the liberal drift of Mainline churches.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hempel |first1=Lynn M. |last2=Bartkowski |first2=John |last3=Matthews |first3=Todd |date=2012 |title=Trust in a "Fallen World": The Case of Protestant Theological Conservatism |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41681809 |journal=Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion |volume=51 |issue=3 |pages=522–541 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-5906.2012.01662.x |jstor=41681809 |issn=0021-8294}}</ref> Through social media, [[Confessing Movement]] groups within the Mainline denominations like [[Redeemed Zoomer]]'s "Operation Reconquista" have evangelized a conservative perspective to [[Generation Z]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Patrick |date=2023-11-08 |title=Meet the Zoomers' Martin Luther |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/11/meet-zoomers-martin-luther-mainline-reformation-project-onl/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=Christianity Today |language=en-US}}</ref>
-==See also==
-*[[Nicene Creed]], sometimes called the "mainstream Christianity"
 ==Notes==
@@ Line 270: / Line 267: @@
 |doi=10.2307/3340276
 |jstor=3340276
+|doi-access=free
 }}
 * {{cite journal
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   |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140630220456/http://faithcommunitiestoday.org/sites/faithcommunitiestoday.org/files/FACTs%20on%20Growth%202010.pdf
   |archive-date = June 30, 2014
+}}
- }}
 * {{cite book
 |last1=Hadaway
@@ Line 441: / Line 438: @@
 |archive-date=April 17, 2017
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417032920/http://www.pewforum.org/files/2013/05/report-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf
 }}
 * {{cite book
@@ Line 453: / Line 449: @@
 |publisher=Pew Research Center
 |access-date=September 27, 2009
+|archive-date=September 29, 2017
+|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929212214/http://www.pewforum.org/files/2008/06/report2-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf
+|url-status=dead
 }}
 * {{cite book