Article September 14, 1963 Issue

Signs of the Times

The Elkhart Truth

From a statement by the Elkhart County Council of Churches in The Elkhart Truth Elkhart, Indiana

For the first time in 100 years the percentage of Americans who belong to churches has decreased. Following a steady increase since 1870, 63.6 per cent of the population was affiliated with a church or synagogue in 1961. This percentage has now dropped to 63.4 per cent.

A steady stream of criticism is now leveled at the Church for failing to meet the needs of society. Negative comments range from the failure of the churches to make the Gospel relevant to life, to the feeling that the "post-Christian era" has really arrived. Many feel that the churches have not done the task for which the Church was called into being. ...

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