Religion At The Turn Of The Century

By The Rev Dr Gregory J. Wismar

The world of religion has experienced major changes in the twentieth century in our community. Newtown is a much more religiously diverse community as the year 2000 begins than it was a century ago. A wide variety of Christian churches have been added to the spiritual landscape of the town in the past one hundred years. The local Jewish community has grown in its presence here as well. Adherents of other faiths live in the neighborhoods of the town in significant numbers. Many people travel far beyond Newtown to attend worship services in their tradition each week, something that could not have happened so easily a hundred years ago. Locally as well as nationally, the twentieth century has seen a greater sense of inter-church cooperation develop. There is a greater reaching across denominational lines for projects in the areas of social ministry, youth activity and public welfare. Collaboration through the Newtown Association of Clergy has brought cooperation on the professional level to the town’s religious leaders. As the new century begins, there is a much greater presence of women in professional church life and in lay leadership in local parishes. A sharing of hymns and worship forms has brought a greater sense of shared tradition to congregations across denominational lines. With God’s blessing, our community’s churches in the year 2000 and beyond will continue to make significant contributions to the well-being of the community just as they have in the past century.

The Rev Dr Gregory J. Wismar is pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church.