(PR Newswire) Since its inception in the early 1800s, the Episcopal Church in Florida has adapted to changing times as it reaches out to the community.
That continues today, as the pioneering organization that began dozens of early missions across Florida is now committing to a new effort of planting alternative church groups. To begin the conversation on how best to do this, the church will host a Jan. 19, 2013 conference in Bradenton, Fla., which will bring together those who have successfully created these new communities and those who wish to help start them.
“It is very encouraging to see the church re-capturing an entrepreneurial spirit for planting communities,” said The Rev. Eric Cooter, who was hired Jan. 1 to establish new missions in the Tampa, Ft. Myers and Sarasota/Bradenton areas by the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida. These new missions will be reaching out to those not currently attending church in great numbers, including the so-called Millennial generation and Generation X.
Must have been a slow news day in Sacramento, if the Bee is picking up a press release from Southwest Florida.
Other than in the minds of its bureaucrats issuing press releases, the Diocese of Southwest Florida has real problems. Parishes are top-heavy with retirees (as one might expect), and, as the current crop of retirees die off, and the baby-boomers, etc., fill the population of the retired, Dio. SW.Fl. can expect steep declines.
The former Bishop, John Lipscomb (a good man) became a Roman Catholic shortly after his retirement. The current Bishop is a poor preacher, thoroughly uninispiring.
The Diocese can issue press releases. It can come up with marketing plans. But I don’t see any authentic message that will persuade people to come for more than one quick look.