Church brands lose their following

CBN News reports that denominational loyalty is on the decline:

Ellison Research, a national marketing company, found 51 percent prefer their denomination, but would consider others. Thirty-three percent of church-goers do not prefer any one denomination.

For Catholics, the survey shows that denomination is more important. Sixty percent would only consider the Catholic Church.

Comparatively, what does that mean?

Ellison Research president Ron Sellers points out that Protestants are about as loyal to their denomination as they are to their toothpaste.

Julia Duin, Religion Editor at the Washington Times, attrbutes "the exodus of people from churches to a lack of community friendliness, changing worship styles, and controlling pastors. ... 'they can't get through to their pastors.' "

The best pastors are, of course, adapting quickly.

Obama's truly 'National' Prayer Service

Representative in the fullest sense, the National Prayer Service which caps inaugural activities on Jan. 21 will, according to the Associated Press, include participation by:

• Conservative Rabbi Jerome Epstein.
• Orthodox Rabbi Haskel Lookstein.
• Reform Rabbi David Saperstein.
• Islamic Society of North America President Ingrid Mattson (head of the nation's largest Muslim group).
• Roman Catholic archbishop of Washington the Most Rev. Donald Wuerl.

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) president Rev. Sharon Watkins, the first woman to head a mainline Protest denomination and an outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq and of torture, will give the sermon.

Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Protestant.

It seems decidedly appropriate, especially when considered in view of the prayers which will precede the Jan. 21 National Cathedral service. Those will be by gay Episcopal bishop, Gene Robinson, Southern Baptist megachurch pastor Rick Warren and black United Methodist minister Dr. Joseph E. Lowery.

Thus the incoming Obama administration finds its religious voice, not shrill or in any way ideologically narrow-minded, but sweepingly inclusive. A living reflection the historic great melting pot of American culture of which we are all so justifiably proud.