The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council began its last meeting of the 2010-2012 triennium contemplating its leadership role ”” and emotional investment ”” in the church’s journey to its future.
The council has spent much of the last three years exploring how the Episcopal Church must change in response to the challenges facing all mainline churches, including declining memberships and thus declining finances, demographic shifts and cultural changes in the place and authority accorded to religious communities in society. When General Convention convenes in July in Indianapolis, deputies and bishops will grapple with a variety of calls…for changes in the church’s structure that their proposers say will help the church meet those challenges.
“Future?” WHAT future?
TEC will run out of people and parishes to sue!
I have been out of the loop here focusing on Lent, Easter and the 50th anniversary of our parish. Can anyone comment briefly what the discrepancies are in the budget? Furthermore, can anyone reflect on the potential changes in TEC culture if the organization changes mentioned here go through? Thank you.
#3, The Curmudgeon has a great explanation here: http://standfirminfaith.com/?/sf/page/28541
Make sure to read all the links.
They really have no idea what they are talking about. There is nothing exciting here despite the rhetoric.
What a sad current example of what it means to be rearranging the deck chairs on the sinking Titanic.
Thank you Ralinda. I missed that piece. So the “ministry” of the national church will shrink by $8.4 million in the next triennium–and the Curmudgeon does not comment on the amount of monies set aside for legal affairs (e.g. suits), but I will assume that it is on par with this triennium. That $8.4 million shrinkage will require a cutback in programs, staff, or other services on the national level. The ENS article implies a pattern of decentralization (in part because 815 cannot afford the staff to keep control of things). Any other sources re where the Church might be decentralized?–Robert Munday for example earlier this year prognosticated a reduction in numerous dioceses and I understood correctly, that these new enlarged dioceses or their provinces would assume greater political influence over and against 815.
The other bit of imaginary math is the anticipated ‘giving’ from dioceses. If I were to bet, I’d put it closer to 12%. After all, a great number of dioceses can’t afford to give anything, and a good number won’t fund the ‘national church’ concept.
Stacy Sauls said:
[blockquote] “The conversation I long to have with you as the elected leadership of the Episcopal Church is not about the panic of our declining numbers but about how we strengthen what is working best out there and make what is strong stronger so that the strong can serve the less than strong,†he said. [/blockquote]
Assuming this is accurately reported, the implication is obvious: the *actual* conversation +Sauls is forced to listen to is “about the panic of our declining numbers”.
[blockquote] “She said that the cut was prompted by the economic crisis that “only hurried a reality that has been emerging for some time,†adding that the Episcopal Church, like other denominations, “is declining in numbers, financial strength, and societal influence.— [/blockquote]
So Ms Schori parrots the standard liberal TEC line: Our problems are due to the Global Financial Crisis and a general decline in all mainline religions. They are not due to a precipitous decline in numbers and income unlike other churches which have not openly embraced apostasy in the way we have.
[blockquote] ““We’re looking toward a church that is more varied and less rigidly controlled, more networked and less directed,†the presiding bishop suggested. “This new church is going to be more organic, more profoundly a body with uniquely gifted parts, each one honored and blessed for the service of God’s mission.â€
Jefferts Schori said no one, including her, “knows exactly what this church is going to look like — and that scares some folks to death.— [/blockquote]
So, right at the time when she and her executive admit that the church is in crisis, including a financial crisis, this CEO is going to engage in a grass-roots re-structuring, without a projected end-state…
These people couldn’t organise a parish bake-sale.
Let us not talk about the huge gash in the side of the ship, the panic over the shortage of lifeboats, the crew abandoning their stations, the icy seas or the absence of foreign ships acknowledging us; instead I invite passengers to appreciate with me how we strengthen what is working best out there. You are invited to join me on the quarter deck where the excellent string ensemble are giving an impromptu concert, or you may wish to chance your arm in the saloon if feeling lucky with cards; alternatively the ship’s chaplain is giving an excellent talk on the interaction of our green planet with the Millenium Development goals which will be followed by a collection for the Beers Benevolent Church Appropriation Fund.
Whatever you do: DON’T PANIC!
Anyone seen the Purser recently?