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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTo Stave Off Decline, Churches Attract New Members With Beer
With mainline religious congregations dwindling across America, a scattering of churches is trying to attract new members by creating a different sort of Christian community. They are gathering around craft beer.Some church groups are brewing it themselves, while others are bring the Holy Mysteries to a taproom. The result is not sloshed congregants; rather, it's an exploratory approach to do church differently.
Leah Stanfield stands at a microphone across the room from the beer taps and reads this evening's gospel message.
She's a 28-year-old leasing agent who's been coming to Church-in-a-Pub here in Fort Worth, Tex., for a year, and occasionally leads worship.
"I find the love, I find the support, I find the non-judgmental eyes when I come here," she says. "And I find friends that love God, love craft beer."
Every Sunday evening, 30 to 40 people gather at Zio Carlo brewpub to order pizza and pints of beer, to have fellowship, and have church including communion.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/11/03/242301642/to-stave-off-decline-churches-attract-new-members-with-beer?utm_content=socialflow&utm_campaign=nprfacebook&utm_source=npr&utm_medium=facebook
Guess that explains how Texas elected people like Rick Perry and Ted Cruz.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)take a look inward and see if there are any fundamental flaws which have driven away so many people??
Earth_First
(14,910 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)It's called that holy book thing written thousands of years ago by old men who really weren't very bright by today's standards
Science works, Faith is something you have to have when no evidence exists for it
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)There has just been too much regression of the 'love thy neighbor, feed/clothe/shelter the poor, comfort the sick', etc. type of church to saying all Americans are going to hell because we tolerate all the gays and non-Christians...
Blue Owl
(50,498 posts)Crabby Appleton
(5,231 posts)I believe I'll have another beer.
sakabatou
(42,174 posts)KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Just sayin'.
longship
(40,416 posts)You know, mass quantities every Sunday.
Coyotl
(15,262 posts)NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)Hell, if I'm drunk enough to think I can sing some Garth Brooks at karaoke, I might be drunk enough to fall for anything.