# Roundup: Dying churches, ordaining gays, Potter, Gaga and Tree of Life

> Pastors come and go, but it is the congregants, parishioners, and members that make up the identity, flavour, and, ultimately, affect the future direction of a congregation. How critics missed the boat on Tree of Life.

14 July 2011 · News

Canonical: https://insights1.uca.org.au/articles/roundup-dying-churches-ordaining-gays-potter-gaga-and-tree-of-life/

## [Ten ways to revive a dying church](https://blog.sojo.net/2011/07/12/10-ways-to-revive-a-dying-church/)

Pastors come and go, but it is the congregants, parishioners, and members that make up the identity, flavour, and, ultimately, affect the future direction of a congregation.

## [Ageing Church of England ‘will be dead in 20 years’](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8633540/Ageing-Church-of-England-will-be-dead-in-20-years.html)

The Church was compared to a company “impeccably” managing itself into failure.

## [Final gasp of the ‘Harry Potter’ wars?](https://www.therepublic.com/view/story/religion-faith071311/religion-faith071311/)

The “Harry Potter” culture warriors have surged into action one last time, adding their familiar notes of discord to the fanfares greeting the release of *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2*.

## [The theology of Harry Potter](https://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/jul/12/harry-potter-theology-christian-thought)

Whether discussing what it means to be saved or what the end times will look like, [the students] encountered each discussion with curiosity, seeking to learn not just from the readings but also from those who held beliefs different from their own.

## [Harry Potter’s victory over Christian wowsers](https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=27219)

Contrary to the predictions of wowsers, the series has not led generations into paganism. Instead they have enjoyed and been inspired by an unforgettable story containing a simple but profound message lifted straight from the gospels. Amen.

## [From shame to fame](https://christiancentury.org/article/2011-07/shame-fame)

Gaga’s message resonates with the gospel. To paraphrase Will Campbell, the gospel message is that “we’re all misfits, but God loves us anyway.”

## [Visualising the Cosmos](https://killingthebuddha.com/mag/exegesis/visualizing-the-cosmos/)

Terrence Malick and an imaginary history of the universe.

## [The way of the brother](https://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/culture/4857/the_way_of_the_brother%3A_how_critics_missed_the_boat_on_tree_of_life/)

How critics missed the boat on *Tree of Life.*

## [US Presbyterians change hearts and minds](https://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/sexandgender/4822/presbyterians%2C_change_hearts_%26_minds%2C_begin_ordaining_gays/)

Begin ordaining gays.