So, clergy moved left, members moved out, and mainline churches became mixtures of union halls, encounter groups and mausoleums.

FORBES: The Seminary Bubble

Mainline churches have largely become local versions of the Green Party at prayer.

FORBES: The Seminary Bubble

Like other mainline Protestant churches, the ELCA's membership has shrunk, by 10.5% from 1998 to 2008.

ECONOMIST: Homosexuality in the Lutheran church

By Hindu temples, and mainline Protestants, Catholic Relief Services, African American churches, the United Sikhs.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Speaks at National Prayer Breakfast

For the first time, fewer than 50% (48%, in fact) of adults identified as Protestant, and those numbers are going down both in traditional mainline denominations, such as my United Church of Christ, and evangelical churches.

FORBES: Selling Religion: Why My Church Sponsored Youth Baseball and Softball