In order to generate a pictorial chart of this parish, please go [url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/109378_107383_ENG_HTM.htm]here[/url] and enter “Milwaukee” in the second line down under “Diocese.” Next please wait a moment and then click on “Church” and choose”St Paul’s, Oconomowoc” Then wait another moment and choose “View Church chart” under that line (the middle of the three choices).
Just out of curiosity, is the choice of parishes random? Hard to make a statistical case for anything with a church with ASA of 30.
And your point is . . . .
This is actually St. Paul’s, Ashippun. The priest in charge is Father Tom Holtzen, who is the Professor of Systematics at Nashotah House. He’s one of the good guys.
Zion Episcopal Church in Oconomowoc is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever visited. It seems to be holding its own in membership and ASA.
http://208.91.223.92/reports/PR_ChartsDemo/exports/ParishRPT_521201025141PM.pdf
This one is better.
Sorry, if my #1 was misunderstood, I really wasn’t trying to make any point, I was just curious. For the last several months, T19 has from time to time pointed out the statistics for a parish or diocese. I myself was wondering if there was a particular point, or whether the elves were just selecting parishes or dioceses at random to give people a taste of what TEC was like in different places.
Fr. Lee, I did wonder if the priest in the parish was a Nashotah prof. I do know where both the parish, and the “Mission” are located. Dad was a Nashotah grad, and both parents are buried in the churchyard. I even spent a couple weeks one summer in the nearby Kettle Moraine state park. Good that bishop Miller has apparently remained sufficiently tolerant that Nashotah priests can still poke their heads off the property.
#1,6 tjm
I wasn’t clear. My point was to Kendall. What is your point, Kendall, in posting these statistics?
Why does a town of 12,000 have two Episcopal churches?
#8: our area (southern Beaufort County, SC) of 35,000 people has 3 healthy ECUSA churches (2 orthodox, 1 revisionist).
Unfortunately, it’s a pretty familiar looking pattern – slowly declining attendance and fewer people giving more.
It’s always interesting to look at the zipcode profiles that come up with the dialogue box (the button to the far right). Here is the link to the zipcode demographics of this particular congregation. [url=http://208.91.223.92/demoPDF/5/z53066.pdf ] Demographics of the area[/url]
What’s really telling in this is the amount of growth in the area since 2000 – 21%. The population seems to be weighted heavily towards baby-boomers and affluence. So, it would really take only a couple of reasonably big givers to keep this church afloat.
Was there something about this congregation that caught your eye, Kendall?
As mentioned above, Fr. Tom Holtzen is the priest-in-charge at St. Paul’s, Ashippun (not Oconomowoc). Fr. Holtzen is the Assoc Prof of Systematic and Historical Theology at Nashotah House — a really outstanding younger professor (still in his 30s), and wonderful guy. He pastors St. Paul’s very faithfully, though it is not his “day job.” “One of the good guy” (#3) is exactly right.
Those of you who might know the area will know that this church is not really Oconomowoc but in Ashippun, a tiny, rural, but “suburbanizing” community to the north of Nashotah House. This whole area has a disproportionate number of (mostly small) Episcopal Churches due to the pioneering efforts of Nashotah House people years ago, many more than one would expect given the population density.
Garwood Anderson
Academic Dean, Nashotah House
Just looking at the graph, ASA wise, St Paul’s is holding its own for 5 years, which these days is pretty good, small or large. Good for them.
Considering the graph for the diocese of Milwaukee, St Paul’s is actually bucking the trend.
It is important to note that the parishes that are hardest hit by the TEClub’s heresies are conservative churches in a revisionist diocese. So good for Fr. Holtzen for holding his own!
Thanks Dr. Anderson for your insightful words today during the meeting. I thought they were right on target.
Zion Episcopal Church in Oconomowoc is led by my former priest, Fr. Butcher. You’ll note his orthodox and pastoral care has grown the congregation, the ASA and the plate/pledge. He was a tremendous loss for our parish in Montana, but has obviously been good for his current one.
I too thank OR (Prof. Anderson, #11) for chiming in here. I wish he’d resume posting more often on blogs like this one, but it’s good to hear about faithful Anglican congregations thriving anywhere, but especially in a revisionist diocese like Milwaukee. Blessings on The Mission.
David Handy+