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2009: Episcopal Church Shows Continued Decline in Attendance. Plate and Pledge Also Down
Slide shows continued escalation from 2003 decision to ordain active homosexual bishop
By David W. Virtue with Mary Ann Mueller
www.virtueonline.org
October 6, 2010
The Episcopal Church USA continued its downward spiral in 2009 with Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) dropping 2.6% with a 2.3% drop in baptized membership and an 8.3% drop in Plate and Pledge.
In 2008, ASA was 705,257. In 2009, that figure dropped below the benchmark figure of 700,000 to 686,779 - a drop of 18,478.
Baptism figures also dropped. In 2008, the number of baptized in TEC was 2,057,292. In 2009, that figure had dropped to 2,009,115, a drop of 2.3% or 48,177.
Plate and pledge showed a dramatic decrease in 2009 from 2008. In 2008 Episcopal Church parishes took in $1,326,076,937. By 2009 that figure had dropped to $1,215,765,568, a decline of over 8% or $110,311,369.
Figures revealed two solid years of across the board decreases in all departments.
Two domestic dioceses showed a small increase: Upper South Carolina and Utah.
In 2008, there were four dioceses that showed a slight uptick: Navajoland, Alabama, Wyoming and N. Dakota.
In 2009, Alabama and Wyoming were in red ink across the board.
FOOTNOTE: These figures were read from bar graphs and must be considered preliminary numbers.
For a fuller explication of the figures regarding the overall decline in TEC go here: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=13375
----Mary Ann Mueller is based in Texas and is a regular contributor to Virtueonline
