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In the United States, the mainline (also sometimes called mainstream) or mainline Protestant denominations are those Protestant denominations with a potpourri of conservative, moderate, and liberal theologies. The hallmark of the mainline churches is moderation. Their theologies tend to be moderate and influenced by the Historical-critical method, consciously or not. Ministers and members of mainline churches generally are comfortable with modern language and inclusive language translations of the Bible.

They tend to be open to new ideas and societal changes without abandoning what they consider to be the historical basis of the Christian faith.^[1] This places them to the left of the more conservative fundamentalist and evangelical churches. They have been increasingly open to the ordination of women. They have been far from uniform in their reaction to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals, though less dogmatic on these issues than either the Catholic Church or the more conservative Protestant churches. Mainline churches take a moderate view with regard to military service — all provide chaplains to the United States armed forces and none are historically peace churches except the Church of the Brethren — but all express reservations about aggressive use of military force for any reason.

Mainline churches tend to be ecumenical in outlook, often belonging to interdenominational and interfaith organizations such as the National Council of Churches and World Council of Churches.

Most mainline denominations follow the traditional Christian belief in the triune nature of God, but do not require strict acceptance of everything written about or spoken by Jesus in the New Testament.

Many believe that the Bible is God's Word, while remaining open to new understanding of it. Few would suggest that the Bible was verbally and plenarily inspired as some biblical inerrantists maintain. That view holds that the Bible as we have it is the result of God's Holy Spirit directly revealing His words to its authors. There is a general consensus that scripture must be interpreted both through the lens of the culture in which it was originally written, and examined using God-given reason. Neither of these methods is believed to diminish the importance of scripture or is an indication that scripture is not the revelation of God's Word.^[2]

Most mainline denominations are Trinitarian, meaning they accept doctrine that God exists as three persons of one essence: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Many mainline denominations also believe in the virgin birth of Christ.

The term mainline may imply a certain numerical majority or dominant presence in mainstream society that is no longer accurate. The Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) counts 26,344,933 members of mainline churches versus 39,930,869 members of evangelical Protestant churches.^[3] There is evidence that there has been a shift in membership from mainline denominations to non-denominational churches.^[4]

The inclusion of a denomination in the mainline category does not imply that every member of that denomination, nor even every member of their clergy, accept some of the beliefs generally held in common by other mainline churches. All of them allow considerable theological latitude. However, each mainline denomination has within it a Confessing Movement or renewal movement which is more conservative in tone.

Some denominations with similar names, and historical ties to mainline groups are not considered mainline. For example, while the American Baptist Churches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Presbyterian Church USA are mainline, the Southern Baptist Convention, Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, and the Presbyterian Church in America are too conservative to be regarded as mainline denominations.

The Association of Religion Data Archives considers these denominations to be mainline:^[3]

• American Baptist Churches in the USA 1,442,824 members (2001)^[5]
• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 804,842 members (2001)^[6]
• Congregational Christian Churches, (not part of any national CCC body)
• Episcopal Church in the United States of America 2,369,477 members
• Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 4,850,000 members (2007)^[7]
• International Council of Community Churches 200,263 members (2000)^[8]
• Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches 44,000 members (1998)^[9]
• Moravian Church in America, Alaska Province
• Moravian Church in America, Northern Province 24,650 members (2003)^[10]
• Moravian Church in America, Southern Province 21,513 members (1991)^[11]
• National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 65,569 members (2000)^[12]
• North American Baptist Conference
• Presbyterian Church (USA) 2,300,000 members (2007)^[13]
• Reformed Church in America 285,453 members (2001)^[14]
• Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
• United Church of Christ 1,359,105 members (2001)^[15]
• United Methodist Church 8,070,000 members (2006)^[16]

The largest U.S. mainline churches are sometimes referred to as the Seven Sisters of American Protestantism.*^[17] The term was apparently coined by William Hutchison^[18] in reference to the major liberal groups of American Baptists, Disciples of Christ, Congregationalists / United Church of Christ, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists, and Presbyterians during the period between 1900 and 1960.

The Association of Religion Data Archives has difficulties collecting data on traditionally African American denominations. Those churches most likely to be identified as mainline include these Methodist groups:

• African Methodist Episcopal Church
• AME Zion Church
• Christian Methodist Episcopal Church