That’s 16 churches out of total of 35, or 45%.
I think it’s fair to conclude that an organisation that closes 45% of its outlets is tottering on the brink of extinction.
Any business in this position would do the decent thing, declare bankruptcy and try something different. Not so in the Anglican Church of Canada: even though it uses business euphemisms – churches are rationalised rather than closed – its mouldering corpse continues to be propped up by bequests from dead Anglicans and the sale of buildings belonging to ejected congregations.
This excerpt is a rather sad testimony to the inevitable consequence of clergy promoting a parochial culture of loyalty to a denomination and building rather than to God:
According to a clergyperson within the deanery, who requested anonymity, the problem is exacerbated by an unwillingness among some parishioners to drive to a different congregation if their church is closed.
From here:
The Muskoka region in the diocese of Algoma is famous for its idyllic lakes, rocky shorelines, and—in Anglican circles—its rich history of missionary activity by the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE).
But following years of declining membership and ongoing disagreement among its clergy about how best to adjust to shifting patterns of religious affiliation and church attendance, the bishop and the diocesan executive committee have approved a set of recommendations for reorganization that, if adopted, will lead to the shuttering of 16 of the deanery’s 35 churches.
[…..]
Andrews said he did not believe the financial situation in Muskoka to be significantly different from that faced in other parts of the church, and stressed that the reorganization is more about ensuring that full-time ministry be maintained in as many places as possible.
To clarify: 16/35 is not from the entire diocese, but just from the deanery of Muskoka. So 45% is not a representative number to demonstrate that the diocese is teetering on the brink of extinction. Also, Muskoka is cottage country, so the logistical question needs to be addressed of what effective ministry looks like when you only have parishioners during the summer months.
Thanks for the clarification.
As a former Anglican, it seems to me that summer attendees at church were thin on the ground. Are there actually churches that only have parishioners in the summer? I guess a particular model would need to address that.
The timing is interesting.
Algoma is a fairly conservative diocese as I understand it. This is right on the heels of a significant Synod, and an Anglican Journal article that seemed to be reporting with some excitement that the market is red-hot for the sale of church buildings.
I often wonder how much decisions on Anglican church closures are based on the good of the clergy rather than the people. Anglican churches seem to try and maximize employment for full-time clergy, whereas smaller churches in other denominations frequently employ clergy on a part-time basis. Further, In our diocese, each church has a communion service every Sunday — which requires a clergyperson to officiate. A generation ago Morning Prayer was the most common Sunday service. Morning Prayer can be conducted by a competent lay person. Use of part-time clergy and increased use of services that don’t require paid clergy could reduce costs and help keep many smaller churches open.
The first Chapel of Ease in the Diocese of Toronto has weekly Sunday worship service from Easter Day to the end of October. This small congregation of nine people holds two Communion services every month. But it is not easy for the Churchwarden to secure a retired priest to lead all Sunday services. Thus Morning Prayer services are being led by lay leaders. Please note that most priests will have difficulties in supporting his or her family by working part-time. Also, how many retired priests will want to work after the age of 70?
Richard,
What I understand of the history of Algoma, with strong missionary influence from the Cowley (Bracebridge) Fathers in its early days, is that it is strongly Anglo-Catholic, and weekly Mass (and daily Mass in the larger parishes) was therefore customary long before the liturgical movement of the late 20th century made it the norm throughout the ACoC. (Of course, that same history has not impeded Algoma’s southern neighbour, Northern Michigan, from doing away almost entirely with paid parish clergy; they have ordained priests chosen from within the local congregation to preside as volunteers).
Algoma is of course an “orthodox” diocese with an “orthodox” bishop, and there are no ANiC congregations within its territory drawing people away. Maybe the diocese needs to try something different.
Stepping into the 21st century would be a good thing….
It is significant that the assumption among their clergy is the management of downward shifting attendance and demand for their services. It’s like hiring people for a business that has gone into receivership or administration – their skills most certainly will need to encompass “how best to adjust to shifting patterns of religious affiliation and church attendance”, which is a somewhat mealy-mouthed way of saying that the churches are so poorly attended that they no longer can function.
The problem with “orthodox” enclaves within an openly heretical communion, is that it calls into question whether the orthodoxy is really a conviction or merely a culture. Historically, orthodoxy cannot endure rubbing shoulders with the heterodox. Orthodoxy – or let’s just call it biblical Christianity – always tends toward purity of purpose.
It seems to me that true believers in Israel in the Old Testament time were small in numbers. How many true believers we had before the Great Flood? How many true believers before the Babylonian Exile? In Jesus’ time, most people rejected Him and His message. Have there been many true believers throughout the history of the Church? Today, why we are so surprised that true believers are still small in numbers? We always have phony believers in our midst. There are no perfect churches in this world. The church is a mixed community including the proud, the self-righteous, the self-deceived, the humble, and the meek, etc.