US churches luring new members with beer

Washington – A scattering of churches in the US are trying to attract new members by gathering around craft beer.

Some church groups brew the beer themselves, while others hold service in a pub.

Every Sunday evening, nearly 30 – 40 people crowd at Zio Carlo brewpub to order pizza and pints of beer, to have fellowship, and have church — including communion, NPR reported.

Pastor Philip Heinze and his Calvary Lutheran Church are the sponsors of Church-in-a-Pub, whose formal name is the Greek word, Kyrie.

The Christian Church Disciples of Christ — a small mainline Protestant denomination — had a steep drop in its members in recent decades. Beer and Hymns is just one avenue through which they are trying to attract new people.

Amy Piatt, senior pastor is at First Christian Church Portland, also the originator of Beer and Hymns, said that in this postmodern age, what it means to attend church is changing.