Christianity Today quoted Richard Flory, senior director of research and evaluation, in a news story about Greg Laurie joining the Southern Baptist Convention.
Here’s an excerpt from the article:
“I am really curious about a move from a charismatic affiliation (Calvary Chapel) to being a member of a non-charismatic denomination,” said Richard Flory, senior director of research and evaluation at the University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture. “The theological shift strikes me as indicating some deeper shift for Greg Laurie and/or his church, whether framed as theological or as more cultural.”
“Certainly both Calvary Chapel and the Southern Baptists are committed to a pretty conservative religious/cultural/social/political perspective, but there are enough differences between the two that it raises questions as to why this move,” said Flory, noting that Laurie bucks the trend of prominent leaders moving toward more independence, as chronicled in his recent book, The Rise of Network Christianity.
Click here to read the full story.
Photo Credit: Trever Hoehne for Harvest Ministries
