Voting With Their Feet
Parishioners in the Episcopal Church USA are bailing out.
More than 60% of dioceses in the Episcopal Church USA suffered double digit decline in Average Sunday Attendance from 1997 to 2007 with predictions that the figures will only escalate in 2008 with even greater hemorrhaging.
An official report, drawn from the Episcopal Church’s own figures, shows that the Episcopal Church drew 841,445 Episcopalians in 1997, but in 2007 that figure was 727,822, a drop of 113, 623. In 2008 the estimated loss is about 1,000 Episcopalians weekly. With whole dioceses leaving, that figure could well reach 1,200 now that a new North American Anglican Province has been formed. Recently, nearly 7,000 Episcopalians left the Diocese of Ft. Worth.
More numbers at the link. The report also notes what the reason is.
All indicators are that the losses will only increase in 2008. More parishes will leave as the new Anglican Province in North America takes shape. There is now overwhelming evidence that the consecration of V. Gene Robinson, a non-celibate homosexual to the episcopacy, has been a huge net loss to the church. His much vaunted "God is doing a new thing" is emptying, rather than filling churches. The Diocese of New Hampshire lost 12% of its parishioners between 2003-2007 and a further 6% in 2006-2007. Losses are expected to escalate in 2008.
Parishioners are standing up for what they believe is right…and walking out.
Filed under: Christianity • Doug • Homosexuality • Religion
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Should the alleged cause be true, I’m quite sure the people who “left” have a sense of justification for what they did.
In what way are these acts different from giving judgment (except for the obvious, of course)? What will they do if a similar “scandalizing” event, but not necessarily the same case (context-wise, if you know what I mean), happens in the Anglican church as well?
Are Christians not allowed to agree or disagree with what is being taught? Say that the head of church X started saying that, since God loves thieves, that theft is actually OK. Wouldn’t people who left the church over that teaching be judgmental as well?