The Episcopal Diocese of Vermont is considering its next steps after a recent financial analysis revealed problems.
“Fewer people may mean fewer dollars coming in to those congregations and thus those congregations giving fewer dollars to support the dioceses,” said the Diocese’s Rev. Walter Brownridge. This is the flow of finances for the church in Vermont and he fears they will struggle to support their 45 congregations. “We knew we were facing some real challenges in a few years if we didn’t change course.”
There are less than 6,000 Episcopalians in the state, a number that is on the decline due to various reasons, including an aging demographic.
“I’m almost 80 myself and I’m not particularly unusual in our congregation, and there are a lot of parishes like this that are losing members due to attrition, to deaths, to people moving away,” said Glenn Sproul, a member of the All Saints Episcopal Church in South Burlington.
Read it all (part of summer break article catch-up).
Episcopal Diocese of #Vt confronts financial squeeze https://t.co/B9L5YoNVC5 pic.twitter.com/f4VmfqE63A
— Channel 3 News (@wcax) August 12, 2021