One of Lodi’s older and more active churches is encountering some major financial issues.
For a few months this year, officials at St. John’s Episcopal Church weren’t sure whether they could make their mortgage payment for the church on Lower Sacramento Road.
Thanks to a generous congregation, the church came up with about $43,000, which will more than cover the current $27,059 mortgage payment due to the Bank of Stockton and $6,817 in current interest.
RE: “Some people who used to contribute to the church can no longer afford it due to their own financial situation, Clinehens said. Additionally, some generous church members aren’t around anymore.”
Yes indeed — in fact, half of the generous ASA departed in 2003 [shocker] — the parish chart shows that ASA in 2002 was around 200 and in 2003 around 100.
The parish almost clawed its way back in 2005, only to plunge again in 2006.
Where oh where are all the generous people?
Incidentally the diocese itself has an ASA of around 1000. Wonder where all the diocesan generous people went?
Not to worry. As soon as the diocese gets back all the property, all the generous people will return!
Don’t bet on it.
Naw.
All they have to do in liberal Lodi is throw the doors open, and let anyone and everyone come in to get their shacking up ritually blessed by a priest (let’s use the BCP marriage service for that). Homosexuals, heterosexuals, bisexuals, whatever-sexuals. Imagine, a crowded line of two-income couples (or more), waiting to sign pledge cards to the parish that joined them. They ought to be able to handle several services each weekend.
St John ‘s Members went from 800 in 2002 to 300 in 2009. Yet, there is no ACNA parish in Lodi. ?? Where did the 500 go?? Statmann
I would check out the non-denominational churches in the area. You know, the ones the Episcopalians look down on as right-wing, non-inclusive fundamentalists.
Good point. Also perhaps there might be an Anglican Continuum church in the area?
I’d also check out other mainline churches in the area. In our city a huge chunk of our folks went to the large PCUSA church that has made it clear they will eventually be leaving that denomination.
#7 Sarah–That is also the case here (as I think you know, I left TEC for a PCUSA church that is still faithful to the Gospel, although now we are faced with The Issue again). At one point, at least half the people in my small group Bible study were refugees from the Episcopal Church.
I would observe that Lodi is also only about 12 miles from St. John’s in Stockton (of the old DSJ), and only a little further from the new ACNA plant in Elk Grove.
We keep being told that once the church becomes fully inclusive our society will come to its senses and flock through our doors. The good people of Lodi seem to have not gotten the memo.