by Hannah Gruber ‘10

Philip Jenkins speaks at Bethel University chapel.

Author, professor, and historian Philip Jenkins recently challenged Bethel students, faculty, and staff to reevaluate what the global Christian church looks like and how rapid changes will continue to re-shape it. Jenkins, an Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of the Humanities at Pennsylvania State University, was invited to campus by a committee of faculty from across the university with a vision to educate the Bethel community about global Christianity.

Jenkins explained a shift has occurred in Christianity as a primarily white, Anglo-Saxon church when he spoke in chapel March 2 about the vitality of the African and Asian Anglican church. He asked Bethel what it means that Christianity is the dominant center in the global south.

Until recent history, the majority of Christians in the world have resided in the global north—primarily in North America, Europe, and Russia. However, the number of Christians in Africa and Asia has grown dramatically since 1950, and Jenkins has helped publicize those changes. Jenkins explained that by 2050 only 15 to 20 percent of the world’s Christians will be non-Latino whites. While people in Europe are departing from the faith, Christianity in the U.S. has prevented a similar decline with the rise of evangelicalism, Jenkins said.

“Even insiders like us are unaware, and we as a community need to be alerted to these changes,” said Jim Lewis, Bethel professor of religious studies and one of the organizers of Jenkins’ visit. “Jenkins takes statistics and puts flesh on the bones.”

Interviewed before his chapel address, Jenkins said: “I’m hoping to take something they may think they know a lot about, and show there are more areas to understand and learn about. It’s a much bigger topic than we think.”

The church is not only growing stronger in Africa and Asia, but it is also less divided, Jenkins said. He concluded by asking his audience to contemplate what global Christianity means for Christians living in the Twin Cities.

“He is giving a new voice to this phenomenon, which is just thrilling,” Lewis said.

The audio from Jenkins' talks is now available at bethel.edu/media/university/speakers/2009march-jenkins/.

Those with an interest in this topic won't want to miss the Interreligious Symposium to be held on Wed., April 1, from 4:15-5:30 p.m. in CC313. The symposium will feature Rev. Leith Anderson, Imam Adil Ozdemir, and Rabbi Amy Eilberg discussing “ABSOLUTES AND OPENNESS: Can I be myself and still love my religious neighbor?”