It has survived floods, a national schism, a local split, and countless smaller blows.
But in an economic climate that has placed Yuba-Sutter on the map of most financially desperate places, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Marysville now faces one of its greatest challenges.
Outstanding debts to its parent diocese, a $20,000 budget deficit, and ongoing building maintenance costs currently dwarf what the church takes in from its parishioners, said Pastor Dorothy “Dori” Torrey.
“We could find ourselves on the brink if we can’t turn this around by the first of the year,” Torrey said of the balance sheet that, among other things, threatens her ability to lead St. John’s on a full-time basis.
Statmann, you magnificent person, where you at?
Hmmmm…….
St. John’s, Marysville can join the long and growing list of such congregations in the Diocese of Northern California.
And nobody saw hijackers flying planes into buildings before 9/11.
Horror or horrors. As I said earlier, St. John’s will just be a growing list of parishes unable to afford full-time clergy.
Which is still going quite strong, so I hear. Which leads to a huge problem for many TEC dioceses. There are lots of churches now teetering on the edge of financial viability. If you drive too many folks out, what you have left is parish that is no longer viable. The priest becomes the chaplain to the dying group, performing lots of funerals, being cut to part-time, and finally closing the place up, often owing lots to the diocese which will never be recovered.
Paradoxymoron: I am speechless but I can still type. (Your compliment caused me to recall my favorite secret hope. That, some semester after teaching my basic stat course, the students would carry me out on their shoulders. After 26 years: No 52 Yes 0.) Rev. Torrey became rector in 2006 after the Members dopped from 420 to 150 and ASA from 100 to 70. In 2008, Members were about 75 and ASA 50. In 2008, Plate & Pledge was $120K, not enough for a full-time rector, etc. Based on thousands of TEC Charts I would estimate the chance of a TEC church with less than an ASA of 70 attaining the $150K tipping point to be less than one in 50. Statmann, the Magnificient. (Ah, hope springs eternal.)
Exactly, Statmann. Sounds like the third stage in coming to terms with loss (or death)…bargaining. Next up, life review. Then resolution.
I give ’em about a year or two.
is it just me or doesn’t anyone in the Diocese of Northern California every ask why this parish is going steadily backwards? Or do they care?
It is the birth rate, stupid. No TEC church ever fails because it has nothing to offer except inclusiveness. No one wants to admit any other possibility.