SALT LAKE CITY: HOD President Says Declining Membership is forcing TEC to change
SALT LAKE CITY: HOD President Says Declining Membership is forcing TEC to change
Either we meet challenge or become irrelevant and, eventually, bankrupt,” says Bonnie Anderson
Bonnie Anderson, President
House of Deputies
Executive Council,
April 18, 2012
Opening Remarks
Like all of you, I've been thinking about the need to restructure The Episcopal Church. The demographic reasons, which Kirk Hadaway has shared with us, are clear: like other mainline denominations, The Episcopal Church's membership is declining. Since 2000 our membership has declined by 16% and we lose about 50,000 members per year.
Because, in large measure, it is laypeople who fund the church, declining membership means declining revenue. As we are all aware, The church's draft proposed budget for the 2013-2015 triennium includes $105 million in revenue available for operations, a reduction from the 2010-2012 forecast of $109 million available for operations. That's 4 million dollars. For dioceses and people doing ministry “on the ground” that's a lot of money.
But nevertheless, we are fortunate. Like so many crises this one has provided the church with an opportunity. Isn't it just like God to do that? Provide us with these incredible challenges and then be with us as we figure them out.
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