Why Salt Lake City? The population make up of Salt Lake City make it a unique and distinct place. The channels of culture in Salt Lake City such as its businesses, government, media, religious life, arts and entertainment, education, and social sector have been greatly influenced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). The LDS church as an institution has significant influence in the Salt Lake City metro area and this adds to its uniqueness. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, in 2006 Salt Lake City's LDS members make up 790,764 of the Salt Lake-Ogden metro area. This number is just under 60% of the population. However, although this is a significant percent of the population, the demographics of Salt Lake City indicate that a large percentage of the population, 30%, also claim no religious affiliation and just 10% who claim to embrace historic Christianity, that is, Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant Christianity. Of the 10%, just 2% of the entire metro Salt Lake City area claim to be Evangelical Protestants. But is this population unlike many postmodern U.S. cities?
Growing skepticism toward traditional Christianity is not unique in the United States today just as growing belief in traditional Christianity is not unique in many places outside of the United States.
Tim Keller states,
“Skepticism, fear, and anger toward traditional religion are growing in power and influence. But at the same time, robust, orthodox belief in the traditional faiths is growing as well. The non-churchgoing population in the United States and Europe is steadily increasing. The number of Americans answering “no religious preference” to poll questions has skyrocketed, having doubled or even tripled in the last decade. A century ago most U.S. universities shifted from a formally Christian foundation to an overtly secular one. As a result, those with traditional religious beliefs have little foothold in any of the institutions of cultural power. But even as more and more people identify themselves as having “no religious preference.” Certain churches with supposedly obsolete beliefs in an infallible Bible and miracles are growing in the United States and exploding in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Even in much of Europe, there is some growth in church attendance…religious faith is growing in some corners of academia…In short, the world is polarizing over religion. It is getting both more religious and less religious at the same time." (Timothy Keller, The Reason for God, pg. ix-x)
Given its unique historical beginnings, however, Salt Lake City remains unique. Unlike the rest of the United States where historic Christianity has had a strong influence upon the culture, Salt Lake City has always been a place where historic Christianity has had little cultural influence. Unlike Africa, Latin America, and Asia, there is little influence of tradition Christianity amidst the culture of Salt Lake City. Amidst this mix of religion and religious skepticism there is a great need for a third way. Harvie Conn and Manuel Ortiz state in reference to Salt Lake City and the city's LDS prominence, “In cities where urban power is overtly religious in orientation and strongly institutionalized, it may be very difficult to see strong church growth or a change of faith” (Harvie Conn and Manuel Ortiz, Urban Ministry: The Kingdom, the City, and the People of God, pg. 199) With an Evangelical population of just 2% and an entire 30% of the population claiming no religious belief, Salt Lake City is a significantly important city for new works of the gospel and cultural transformation.
Salt Lake City is also a place where at least 40% of the population does not hold to the dominant LDS religious perspective. Here amidst its culture I have known many who experience a great sense of alienation and whom are seeking ways in which to find their place. Many in the city are seeking ways to experience both a sense of significance and a place of refuge. This is often expressed overtly through activism on behalf of the environment, politics, the arts, and human rights. This overt activism makes Salt Lake City an exciting place to be a participant in the life of the city! As we hope for the influence of the third way of the gospel, the dance of God to permeate the culture, we hope to be a part of working for the welfare of the city. we are eager to experience with others renewal in that place. As we seek to find our place in working for the welfare of the city we anticipate experiencing a taste of the vivid city that one day will be experienced on earth. This future city to which was written about long ago in the biblical story is a place where all things are made new and where God will fully dwell with humanity.
Part of this renewal of the city is the increase of both diversity and harmony. Like most cities in the world, Salt Lake City continues to become more and more ethnically diverse as it attracts many immigrants from around the world. It is a destination in which many have moved in order to find a place of refuge. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s information from 2000, Salt Lake City is a city where approximately 60,000 of its 180,000 residents are non-white. With a population where 33% are ethnic minorities consisting of immigrants from many countries, how might new efforts be made to meet the needs of ethnic minorities and immigrants?
Cities today with their creative energy and their vivid diversity reflect the current reality that the dance of God has been inaugurated. But due to the disruption of beauty, the reality of broken relationships, and injustice, there remains like anywhere else, the need for renewal.
Our hope is to be increasingly motivated to serve toward the renewal of this while continuing to look toward the day when all things will be made new.
