Goshen College Professor of History and Mennonite Historical Library Director John D. Roth believes the Christian church is changing in a significant way and will discuss his ideas in a lecture called, Boundaries and bridges: Do denominations have a future? as part of the Afternoon Sabbatical series on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. in the Music Centers Sauder Concert Hall.

Although a high percentage of Americans continue to believe in God and attend church regularly, religious sociologists have been tracking a steady decline in denominational loyalty. These trends are especially evident among mainline Protestant groups, but they are also noticeable among Mennonites and Catholics as well. What are we to make of this development? Should the loss of denominational identity be celebrated? lamented? reversed? Join us for an interesting conversation about religious identity, ecumenism and the future of denominations.