Mainline Protestant

Mainline Protestantism refers to a group of Protestant denominations in the United States and Canada. These churches are often described as theologically liberal or progressive. This means they tend to hold views that are more open to modern social changes. They are often contrasted with more conservative groups, such as evangelical or fundamentalist denominations. Some people use the term "oldline" to describe these churches. This term refers to their long history and their deep influence on society.

One key feature of these denominations is theological pluralism. This is the idea that many different religious views can exist within one group. Instead of requiring everyone to believe exactly the same thing, these churches allow for a range of opinions. Some members may be conservative, while others are more liberal. In fact, about half of mainline Protestants describe themselves as liberal. This openness means they are often more accepting of different faiths. They also frequently affirm the ordination of women and the ordination of gay people.

Mainline churches also use a specific method to study their holy books. They often use a scholarly approach called higher criticism. This method helps scholars try to separate the earliest historical parts of the Bible from later additions. While they treat the Bible as God's Word, they believe it must be interpreted through study and reason. This approach helps them connect their ancient faith to the modern world. They also place a strong emphasis on social justice and personal salvation.

The term "mainline Protestant" has a very specific history. It was created during intense debates between modernists and fundamentalists in the 1920s. Some historians believe the name comes from the Philadelphia Main Line. This was a group of wealthy suburbs near Philadelphia where many residents belonged to these denominations. Today, these churches are mostly located in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. While the term is common in America, other parts of the world use different words. In places like Europe or South Africa, people might use the word "ecumenical" instead.

There are several very large denominations within this tradition. A person named William Hutchison called the largest seven groups the "Seven Sisters of American Protestantism." The United Methodist Church is the largest, with nearly 5.04 million members in the United States as of 2024. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the second largest, with about 2.7 million baptized members. The Episcopal Church ranks third, with approximately 1.6 million active baptized members. The Presbyterian Church (USA) and the American Baptist Churches USA are both quite large, with about 1.1 million members each.

Other important groups in the mainline tradition include the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In Canada, there are also mainline churches like the United Church of Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada. These Canadian groups share many historical roots with the American denominations. The number of people in these churches has changed over time. In 1970, mainline churches claimed more than 30 percent of the American population. By 2024, the Public Religion Research Institute found that about 13 percent of Americans were white non-Hispanic mainline Protestants.

It is important to distinguish mainline Protestantism from other similar-sounding terms. In academic studies, the term "mainstream Christian" is not the same thing. In those studies, "mainstream" often refers to Trinitarianism, which includes Catholics and Orthodox believers. Also, some groups with similar names are not considered mainline. For example, the Southern Baptist Convention is considered too theologically conservative. These groups are often called "confessional" or "evangelical" instead. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify how different religious groups organize themselves in society.