Covenant News

Trinity Church to Host Seminar on the Global Church's Future

LIVONIA, MI (August 22, 2003) - Author Philip Jenkins will speak on "The Next Christendom: The Coming Upheaval in Global Christianity" at Trinity Church on Saturday, October 4 as part of the Trinity Worldview Series, an ongoing presentation of theologians, scholars, and authors. Jenkins, distinguished professor of history and religious studies at Penn State University, is often heard on National Public Radio commenting on trends in world Christianity and Islam. He will also preach at Trinity Church's Sunday morning worship service at 10:45 on October 5.

In his book, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity, (featured in the June 2003 Covenant Companion) Jenkins asserts that by 2050 only one Christian in five will be a non-Latino white person and that the center of gravity of the Christian world will have shifted firmly to the Southern hemisphere. These Southern Christians are far more theologically traditional, morally conservative, evangelical, and apocalyptic than their northern counterparts, says Jenkins. Their worldview is quite similar to the worldview of the Christian church of the first century: with mysticism, prophecy, healing, exorcism, and dream-visions common practices. Even in traditionally Muslim countries, Jenkins predicts, Christianity will continue to grow at a rapid pace. This will have profound influence on global politics, as these religious ideologies continue to clash and shape world events

Pre-registration for this event is recommended. For further information, please call Trinity Church at (734) 425-2800. Trinity Church is located at 14800 Middlebelt Road, north of I-96 and south of Five Mile Road in Livonia.

Click here to read a review of "The Next Christendom" from the Companion

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