And no one will ever conclude that they may be doing something wrong and look for churches that are growing to see what they are doing. Perhaps even dialogue with growing churches.
Aside from the recessionary pressures, especially in Michigan, I think the focus should appropriately be on the word “Diocese”. The money is total “plate and pledge” of all the parishes in the diocese, not the specific apportionment to the Diocese itself. One could infer that more of that money is being kept home in the parishes where it is doing the most good anyway.
I am reminded of a post by Matt Kennedy back on Monday, October 1, 2007 over at SF,
“Why Pledges Increase as Membership and Attendance figures Decrease”
“Most congregations choose stasis and death. But in making that (unconscious) decision, those who make up the pledge-base inevitably begin to increase their pledges. Why? While they are unwilling to permit anything more than cosmetic change, they do recognise that the parish is in trouble. They are, literally, throwing money at the problem. The resulting rise in offerings serves to provide some psychological comfort to the core…”So we are smaller than we used to be, but with an income like this we’ll be here for a long time…” but since giving at such a high level cannot be maintained interminably and since there will be no replentishing influx of new members, a consistent, year to year, reverse “X” in the graph generally indicates a doomed congregation.”
A commenter asked if this applies to dioceses as well. I think it may, but the effect may appear more suddenly to the diocese as an abrupt tailspin would occur to a wounded B-17 bomber which could keep flying despite a lot of damage, but eventually the damage reaches a critical point and the plane plummets quickly to the ground.
Agree with all the comments. The stat page shows attendance dropping but giving holding its own (or slipping slightly when corrected for inflation)…meaning that fewer are giving more. And as pointed out, this only reflects the data through 2007. The trend that those that remain try to stave off the inevitable only lasts so long and then bust. Looks like the bust is hitting them.
So why, exactly, is this diocese in a fiscal crisis? Membership and ASA are down, but income is basically flat.
I would think that the diocese would be focused on the substantial loss of members rather than the (relatively) trivial loss of cash.
mousestalker–The graph is only through 2007. 2008 and this much of 2009 would reflect the meltdown of the economy.
The trajectory is not pretty.
And that trend shows no signs of improving.
And no one will ever conclude that they may be doing something wrong and look for churches that are growing to see what they are doing. Perhaps even dialogue with growing churches.
Aside from the recessionary pressures, especially in Michigan, I think the focus should appropriately be on the word “Diocese”. The money is total “plate and pledge” of all the parishes in the diocese, not the specific apportionment to the Diocese itself. One could infer that more of that money is being kept home in the parishes where it is doing the most good anyway.
It could be that diocesan income from investments is down also.
I am reminded of a post by Matt Kennedy back on Monday, October 1, 2007 over at SF,
“Why Pledges Increase as Membership and Attendance figures Decrease”
“Most congregations choose stasis and death. But in making that (unconscious) decision, those who make up the pledge-base inevitably begin to increase their pledges. Why? While they are unwilling to permit anything more than cosmetic change, they do recognise that the parish is in trouble. They are, literally, throwing money at the problem. The resulting rise in offerings serves to provide some psychological comfort to the core…”So we are smaller than we used to be, but with an income like this we’ll be here for a long time…” but since giving at such a high level cannot be maintained interminably and since there will be no replentishing influx of new members, a consistent, year to year, reverse “X” in the graph generally indicates a doomed congregation.”
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/6520
A commenter asked if this applies to dioceses as well. I think it may, but the effect may appear more suddenly to the diocese as an abrupt tailspin would occur to a wounded B-17 bomber which could keep flying despite a lot of damage, but eventually the damage reaches a critical point and the plane plummets quickly to the ground.
Agree with all the comments. The stat page shows attendance dropping but giving holding its own (or slipping slightly when corrected for inflation)…meaning that fewer are giving more. And as pointed out, this only reflects the data through 2007. The trend that those that remain try to stave off the inevitable only lasts so long and then bust. Looks like the bust is hitting them.
..and there it was, gone!