The decline in church membership

Episcopal Church reports lowest membership in 70 years

Washington D.C., Nov 1, 2011 / 02:35 am (CNA).- New statistics from the Episcopal Church show the group's loss of more than 200,000 members and 300 parishes between 2006 and 2010, bringing membership to its lowest since the 1930s.

In an Oct. 22 blog entry, commentator David Virtue noted that if the U.S. branch of the Anglican Communion continues to lose active members at the present rate, then “in 26 years there will no longer be anyone attending an Episcopal church.”

CAN THIS HAPPEN TO YOUR CHURCH?

Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the answer is YES.  What phenomenon is taking place in our 21st century that is causing the decline in many churches, some to the point where the church doors are permanently closed?


In a September, 2010 article in The Christian Century, Lovett H. Weems Jr. lists three reasons:  A great deal of regular church goers attend less frequently. The ones that do attend regularly are aging and for reasons of health are not able to go as often. And younger people lack interest in religion and avoid church all together. In citing a 2008 General Social Survey regarding how often people claim to attend church, Weems says that the attendance category that has grown the most since the 1990's is "never", as in never having attend church. WOW! If this is the category that is growing the fastest, then we have to ask ourselves two crucial questions. What must we do to reverse this trend? And when can we start? 


To view these articles in their entirety, visit these links:
No Shows: The decline in worship attendance

Episcopal Church reports lowest membership in 70 years

Shalom

Church Leadership

Survey shows Catholic shift on church leadership, authority issues

By Mark Pattison
Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholics favor a variety of responses to the priest shortage but give less credence to official church teachings than they formerly did, according to the results of a survey commissioned by National Catholic Reporter newspaper.

At least two-thirds of the respondents supported each of a number of alternatives -- priest-sharing, parish mergers, bringing in priests from another country, cutting the number of weekend Masses, having a deacon or layperson run the parish, and occasionally substituting Mass with a communion service.

A growing majority -- 58 percent, compared to 53 percent six years ago -- also said "most priests don't expect the laity to be leaders, just followers." And at least three-quarters of the respondents agreed that laypeople had the right to decide how parish money should be spent, select their new pastor and decide on parish closings.


INTERESTING!
Why do 58 percent of Catholics believe that priests don't expect laity to be leaders? That's not what I hear from most priests and pastors that I have spoken with over the years. I think most pastors welcome laity to get involved and take on some responsibility, relieving their burdens just a bit. As to being "followers", well that's a whole other issue. Of course they want their congregation to follow in some respects; follow the teaching of Jesus, follow the teachings of the church, and hopefully following the guidance of the Holy Spirit working through the church and its members. But to blindly follow, like the zombies on The Walking Dead, looking for sustenance is ridiculous. Sometimes I think comments like that are just an excuse to not get involved. And if you read the rest of the article http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1104193.htm you can draw your own conclusions.  


Shalom