Ryan Burge: What it’s like to close a Church

Tripp Fuller

Dr. Ryan Burge is back to unpack closing the church he pastors and put it in the changing context of institutional religion in America. This is a candid discussion on the personal and societal impacts of church closures in America, illustrated by Ryan’s own experience of closing his long-term church. The conversation explores theological diversity, the digital evolution of faith awareness, and the shifting landscape of religiosity in America. With anecdotes about conference speaking, humorous takes on 90s Christian rock, and reflections on pop culture influences like South Park, this episode is both thought-provoking and entertaining. Perfect for anyone grappling with similar challenges or curious about the state of American Christianity.

Ryan P. Burge is an assistant professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University. Author

of numerous journal articles, he is the co-founder of and a frequent contributor to Religion in Public, a forum for scholars of religion and politics to make their work accessible to a general audience. Burge is a pastor in the American Baptist Church.

Previous Visits from Ryan Burge

• The Future of Christian Education & Ministry in Charts
• The Sky is Falling & the Charts are Popping!
• Graphs about Religion & Politics w/ Spicy Banter
• a Year in Religion (in Graphs)
• Evangelical Jews, Educated Church-Goers, & other bits of dizzying data
• 5 Religion Graphs w/ a side of Hot Takes
• Myths about Religion & Politics

00:00 Introduction

07:43 Vacation and Conference Experiences

09:36 Theology Beer Camp and Future Plans

16:36 Church Closure Announcement

20:56 Reflections on Ministry and Church Life

24:52 Community and Personal Impact

37:33 External Reactions and Personal Grief

41:47 Facing the Reality of Church Closures

42:04 Unsolicited Advice and Its Impact

42:55 The Emotional Toll of Closing a Church

44:25 Support Systems and Denominational Resources

47:26 The Role of Seminaries in Church Closures

58:45 Demographic Challenges Facing Churches

01:03:09 The Future of American Protestantism

01:08:25 Personal Reflections and Next Steps

01:16:33 Digital Connections and Faith

01:18:40 Religious Identity and Honesty

01:21:25 The Evolution of American Religiosity

01:23:37 Generational Shifts and Safe Behaviors

01:24:17 Evangelicalism and Music

01:39:02 Parenting and Personal Agency

01:46:56 Philosophical Reflections on Life and Death

01:48:40 Concluding Thoughts and Humor

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