The Leader’s Way 53: The Church's Future with Andrew McGowan
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May 12, 2025 Andrew McGowan, Dean and President of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, shares his insights on the changing dynamics of the church and its future. He discusses the parallels between Australian secularization and trends in the U.S., including a decline in church attendance. McGowan highlights the nuanced difference between hope and optimism and critiques consumer capitalism's impact on faith communities. The conversation also touches on the importance of genuine community engagement and the evolving nature of the Eucharist, culminating in a lighthearted debate about the best bread for the sacrament.
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Secularization Drives Church Change
- Declining church attendance isn't mainly clergy's fault nor liturgical changes.
- Shifting religious practice reflects deep societal secularization, not simple mistakes.
Australian Secularization Foreshadowed US
- Andrew observed Australia's strong secularization before arriving in the US.
- He witnessed US religious vitality in the 1990s before similar decline emerged later.
Hope Vs. Optimism In Church
- Hope, grounded theologically, transcends empirical optimism about church trends.
- The church has faced tough crises before and can endure beyond current decline.