Changing demographics, a declining and aging membership, and economic pressures forced the congregation to make some tough decisions, and rather than close completely or move to the suburbs, it voted to merge with another historic Toledo church, Trinity Episcopal downtown.
Friday’s service, being held on the Feast of the Epiphany, in some ways marks the completion of a circle for the two congregations.
“It’s interesting that St. Mark’s began as a mission Sunday school of Trinity Church, actually beginning in the rectory of Trinity Church in 1888,” said Ohio Bishop Mark Hollingsworth, Jr., who will preside at the evensong service.
“Declining and ageing membership” – the wages of liberalism are once again being paid. One comment on a news blog was interesting: “So many churches are already sitting empty in Toledo”.
Is Statmann around? What are the statistics for TEC in Ohio?
I don’t know what Continuum churches are in Ohio, but according to its “parish locator”, ACNA has 25 parishes there, 8 of whom are “ministry partners” (6 Anglican Mission and 2 Anglican Province of America). So, not a huge number yet but several of these appear to be new plants.
I share some misgivings with MichaelA. The merger makes sense with a combined potential of ASA of 155 and Plate & Pledge of $250K. BUT the 2002 though 2010 data for both churches appear to be of decline. I have a hunch that the decline will continue. BUT then we are ttold of a $3 million renovation, so other funding sources must be substantial. The Dio of Ohio had a tough 2002 though 2010 experience with Members down 24.1 percent and ASA down 26.2 percent. BUT, the Dio still reports Members and ASA for 5 phantom churches which have already left the Dio . IF correctly reported, Members are down by 33.3 percent and ASA by 37.6 percent. Quite a difference. The Dio of Ohio is in a steep decline. AND longer term stats are also grim wuth Marraiges down 45.3 percent and Infant Baptisms down 42.8 percent. AND finally, the asking price of $199K for a 24K sq ft building is only 8 bucks per sq ft!!! All in all, a truly sad picture. Statmann
[blockquote]”We ended up with a community that had
lots of straight people, but also a lot ofgay and lesbian and transgender people as a part of it,” the Rev. Voorhees said. “We had some straight families who belongedbecause they wanted their children to be exposed to that kind of environment, which was open and nonjudgmental.”[/blockquote]There we go. . .that’s probably accurate now.
Nice job, Voorhees: an endowment plundered from a worship community in Ohio to a retirement home in Florida.