According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s figures, Oklahoma has grown in population from 3,450,654 in 2000 to 3,687,050 in 2009. This represents a population growth of approximately 6.85%.
According to Episcopal Church statistics, the Diocese of Oklahoma went from Average Sunday Attendance (or ASA) of 7,382 in 1998 to 5,697 in 2008. This represents an ASA decline of about 23% over this ten year period.
In order to generate a pictorial chart of some Oklahoma diocesan statistics, please go [url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/growth_60791_ENG_HTM.htm?menupage=50929]here[/url] and enter “Oklahoma” in the second line down under “Diocese” and then click on “View Diocese Chart” under the third line to the left.
The 2002 through 2008 years were not kind to the diocese with Members down 12.8 percent, ASA down by 22.4 percent, and Plate & Pledge (adjusted for inflation) down 10.6 percent. Using these data I ranked the diocese at 68 out of 95 considered. And the future appears to be more of the same. In 2008 there were 256 Infant Baptisms and 324 Burials. Also in 2008, 70 percent (49 of 70) of its churches had Plate & Pledge of less than $150K which means that each “rich” church had a bit more two “poor” churches to help. And in 2008, 44 of the 70 churches had ASA of 70 or less (and 16 of the 44 had ASA of 20 or less). It is quite important to note that NOT ONE of the 44 had Plate & Pledge of $150K or more. (I have viewed about 1800 TEC Charts for ASA of 70 or less and have found only 20 that have attained the $150K level. That would strongly support the conclusion that only about ONE percent of the about 3,500 TEC churches below the Median ASA can manage to be a “full-service” parish.) Of the 70 parishes in Oklahoma 23 had Plate & pledge of $150K or more in 2008. Candidates for closure will not be hard to find given 16 with ASA of 20 or less. Statmann
The threshold for closure should be: less than “2 or 3 are gathered together in my name.”
A Church under 20 ASA and under 150K Plate & Pledge is a candidate for radical change, yes, but so are many moribund congregations above that line. Perhaps Lay or BiVocational Leadership, relocation, or renewal. Closing the church says “We love the way we have always done church more than we love you 19 souls who are here today.”
Pretty thin, since Christ made do with 12.
Statmann,
Thanks, as always. The future is grim and gloomy for OK, where all is definitely not OK.
I particularly appreciated your stress on the harsh reality that only about 1% of the half of TEC churches with ASA of 70 or less can reasonably expect to be or stay a “normal” church, with a fulltime priest. Just a measely, pitiful ONE percent!!
However, I’ll dare to quibble with you about the meaning of a “full service” church. Personally, I’d reserve that term for what Lyle Schaller, the dean of church consultants, tends to call “seven-day-a-week churches” (and most people call megachurches). I guess it all depends on your concept of what constitutes “full” service.
David Handy+
I think a large part of the problem can be laid at the feet of our “formation” (sic) process. We did not form clergy to be priest and pastors, so we have people in charge of congregations who have no idea how to grow a congregation or how to spread the Gospel. In reality, we have many people who do not know what the Gospel is leading many of our congregations.
This leads to dying congregations.
Which leads to less money for full time clergy.
Which leads to part time clergy.
While the part time clergy may have a better understanding of the Gospel, they have even less formation as pastors and priests. They are also not fully involved in the congregation and have less time to spend on building it up or turning people into evangelists.
Until TEC decides to return to the Gospel and to form its clergy as pastors and priests and disciples who make disciples, this ASA “correction” will continue. We will continue to close congregations and lose members until we are a small, niche, denomination that has presence on the coasts and in a few larger cities – and the State of South Carolina.
YBIC,
Phil Snyder
Today’s candidates are often older, second career folks. I hope I step on no toes with this, but I have found them to be kind, charitable folk but not ones to lead a charge toward change, outreach and growth. Their job is to maintain the store, do business as usual, and turn off the lights when the last parishioner is gone.