Presbyterian Church USA

Information may not be reliable

First Presbyterian Church of Ashland

I recently had the privilege of attending the 2010 Paul S. Wright Lecture Series at Menucha Retreat Center in Corbett, OR. The speaker was Dr. Rodger Nishioka, Associate Professor of Christian Education at Columbia Theological Seminary, who facilitated dialog on contemporary issues facing ministry in the 21st century. During our time together, Nishioka identified six religious typologies. (1) Committed traditionalists who have a strong faith and a well-articulated belief system expressed through consistent practice, and (2) selective adherents who have some religious upbringing yet compartmentalize belief and practice. Also included were (3) spiritually open, (4) religiously indifferent, (5) religiously disconnected, and (6) irreligious. The question then posed was, How do people end up in numbers 1 & 2?