Ryan Burge Lectureship
“The State of the Church” with Ryan
About the event
Messiah University’s mission is “to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character, and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership, and reconciliation in Church and society.” Fulfilling this mission is a formidable task for the university—and for all who hope to see future generations committed to love of God and neighbor—in turbulent times for the Church. Burge will use insights from his research to help us understand the state of the Church in the United States, answering the questions Where are we? and Where are we headed?
About the speaker
Ryan Burge (PhD, Southern Illinois University) is professor of practice at the John C. Danforth Center at
Washington University in St. Louis. He is a political scientist and former American Baptist pastor of seventeen years whose research focuses on the impact of religion on American life. Burge has written widely, including for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and he has become a trusted voice for helping the church
understand trends in religious life. His books include The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going (2021), 20 Myths about Religion and Politics in America (2022), and The American Religious Landscape: Facts, Trends, and the Future (2024). He also collaborated with pastors Michael Graham and Jim Davis to write The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? (2023).