For instance: and let me clear--what follows is not to deny our recent experience, but it does put it in necessary context. We are all concerned about attendance: through the necessary closure period, we faced some attrition--through death, movement, and attenuation of relationship. All unfortunate; mostly all unavoidable. But fact, nonetheless. Anecdotally, where we stand mid-pandemic, is that our people have returned at a rate of 50-65% generally.

According to the media in Malawi, three weeks after he was deposed from office by the primate, the Most Rev. Albert Chama, the Rt. Rev. Brighton Malasa has maintained possession of the diocesan properties.

Median Average Sunday Attendance in the denomination dropped from 55 persons in 2017 to 21 persons in 2021. Long-term, 88% of Episcopal parishes saw their attendance decline 10% or greater in the past five years, and 90% of congregations report attendance of less than 100 persons.

The 2021 statistics are the first attendance numbers affected by COVID-19 restrictions (in 2020, the church only reported attendance data for the pre-pandemic period January through early March).

Saint Francis Ministries hired Robert Smith, known as Father Bobby, as president and CEO in 2014. He became a canonical resident in the Diocese of Chicago in 2012. (Saint Francis Ministries)

Rebecca Wilson, partner at a public relations firm that handles inquiries for the Diocese of Chicago, said the church's investigation "did not identify any wrongdoing on the Rev. Smith's part beyond errors in judgment."