This originally appeared on Faith & Leadership, an offering of Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. To go to the original article, click here.

As the Christian landscape changes, Faith & Leadership says leaders must ask and answer a new question: What's the future of denominations? This is part of an occasional series that offers the thoughts of people across Christianity on this vital issue. To see the entire series, including the video interviews, click here.

Denominations are important because they embody an ethos, provide connection and are able "to see and solve problems," said Brian D. McLaren, an author, pastor and public speaker.

But denominations must turn from a "problem focus to a goal focus" if they are to remain relevant, especially to young people, he said.

Awhile back John Stackhouse, of Regent College in Vancouver, wrote that conservative churches were growing while more liberal churches were diminishing. He mentioned the Anglican church as an example of the latter. The point he was making was obviously pro-conservative, as he was stating that liberal (or even moderate) Christianity can not offer people what conservative Protestantism can offer.