"Wanting to grow is related to growth, but does not ensure growth," Hadaway wrote in the 2010 survey summary. "However, not caring about growth nearly ensures decline."

Despite the shrill cries that the consecration of V. Gene Robinson, an openly avowed non-celibate homosexual to the episcopacy, would see a major influx of homosexuals into the Episcopal Church, it has not materialized.

Serious conflict racks the Church

Nearly 90% of all Episcopal congregations reported having conflicts or disagreements in the last five years (up from 86% in 2000, but down slightly from 93% in 2005 and 90% in 2008). At least one area of serious conflict was reported by 61% of churches.

Declining congregations tend to have more overall conflict and more areas of serious conflict. Conflict over leadership and conflict over finances were the areas most strongly related to decline in average Sunday attendance. As a result of congregational conflict, some 93% of members have left the church with some 50% of members withholding funds. In 26% of cases, a staff member was dismissed or resigned.

On the plus side, the survey found Episcopal Church congregations increasing their digital presence with parishes turning more and more to the internet and social media in particular to communicate with their members and their communities.

Conservative Episcopal congregations were much more likely to have experienced serious conflict during the last five years regarding the ordination of gay clergy than more liberal congregations. The survey also found that congregations rating themselves as "very liberal" were most likely to have grown in worship attendance (38 percent), followed by congregations that are "somewhat liberal" (32 percent) or "very conservative" (30 percent)..

Results for Episcopalians in the (FACT) survey showed that 95 percent of congregations reported that they use email to communicate with members and 86 percent have websites. The latter is an increase from 81 percent in 2008 and 76 percent in 2005. Forty-one percent report having used Facebook or other social media in 2010. Congregations frequently reported using electronic newsletters, text messaging and Twitter, according to the survey.

The findings are based on responses from 837 Episcopal parishes and missions that completed the 2010 Faith Communities Today Survey (a 76% response rate.) However, this did not translate into increased parish attendance.

Ninety-one percent of those surveyed also reported that they have conducted special events or programs designed to attract people from the community, although 37 percent said they have done so only once or twice in the last year.

Hadaway also noted that growing congregations were most likely to strongly agree that they are "spiritually vital and alive," have a "strong mission and purpose," are "moral beacons" in their communities, and are "willing to change to meet new challenges." A congregation that says it is like a "close-knit family" is "only marginally related to growth in worship attendance," he said.

Episcopal congregations varied in their theological outlook. However, relatively few say that are very liberal or very conservative. Most are either "moderate" or somewhat conservative or liberal. Very liberal or progressive, 5% Moderate, 41% Very conservative, 7% Somewhat conservative, 23% Somewhat liberal or progressive, 24%.

The survey also found that:

* More than half (52.4 percent) of all Episcopal congregations had an average attendance of 70 or fewer persons in 2009, as compared with 50.7 percent in 2007, according to data from the church's annual Parochial Report, which all congregations are canonically required to submit. The median Episcopal congregation had 66 persons at Sunday worship in 2009, compared to 72 in 2006 and 77 in 2003. The National Congregations Study reports that the median church in the U.S. has 75 regular participants in worship on Sunday mornings.

* Of congregations with a single worship service each weekend, 50% report that the service is less than one third full. In 2008, three-fourths of similar congregations reported that their services ran at 40 percent or less of capacity.

* The median Episcopal congregation had 160 active members in 2009, according Parochial Report data, down from 182 in 2003.

* The membership of the median Episcopal congregation is 60% female.

* The majority (86.7%) of Episcopalians are white/European American.

* The large majority (69%) of Episcopal congregations report that more than half of their members are age 50 or older. Overall, 30 percent of Episcopal Church members are age 65 or older, as compared to only 13% of the U.S. population. In the last survey, that portion stood at 27 percent.

* Seventy percent of congregations surveyed said their income declined during the 2008-2009 recession and only 28 percent report that their finances were "excellent" or "good" in 2011. In 2000, the proportion of congregations in excellent or good financial condition was 56 percent. The proportion in serious or some financial difficulty almost doubled from 2000 to 2005.

Smaller parishes are much less likely to have fulltime paid clergy than are larger parishes. Only about one third (37%) of parishes with attendance of 70 or less have full-time paid clergy. Overall, 63% of Episcopal parishes have at least one full-time paid clergy. Part-time clergy serve another 29% of congregations. The remainder report having no clergy at all or that they are served by unpaid priests.

The typical (median) rector or vicar is 58 years of age and was called to his or her congregation in 2006. The median age of clergy in this survey is higher than the figure typically referenced for Episcopal parish clergy because the FACT survey includes priests who are part-time or retired. 33% of clergy were called in 2008, 2009 or in the first half of 2010.

The Episcopal Congregations Overview is based on responses from 837 Episcopal parishes and missions that completed the 2010 Faith Communities Today Survey (76% response rate). The data were weighted by size and region to be representative of all Episcopal congregations.

For the full report click here:

http://episcopalchurch.org/documents/Episcopal_Overview_FACT_2010.pdf

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