Comments on: ECUSA is winning…the race of decline http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2008/02/19/ecusa-is-winningthe-race-of-decline/ "Seven whole days, not one in seven, I will praise thee" -- George Herbert (1633) Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:05:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rob http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2008/02/19/ecusa-is-winningthe-race-of-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-149 Rob Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:04:51 +0000 http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2008/02/19/ecusa-is-winningthe-race-of-decline/#comment-149 Dear Scott , I did indeed see the stability (which I would not call growth) followed by a big one year drop. I figured that there was something going on behind the numbers. Thanks. Dear Scott , I did indeed see the stability (which I would not call growth) followed by a big one year drop. I figured that there was something going on behind the numbers. Thanks.

]]> By: Scott Gunn http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2008/02/19/ecusa-is-winningthe-race-of-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Scott Gunn Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:44:23 +0000 http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2008/02/19/ecusa-is-winningthe-race-of-decline/#comment-148 Fair enough, based on the data you can see. There are two things that mitigate that data. First, that single year of precipitous decline (after several stable years, which should indicate a data anomaly), was mostly due to a reporting variance. There was a change in the method of recording attendance. Previously, a children's service was recorded, and that didn't happen. Second, during the interim period, no one knew about properly recording Sunday afternoon and vigil services as part of Sunday, so there was a decline. Here's what I can tell you. So far in 2008, our worship attendance (not counting a children's service) is up about 30% over last year. Apples to apples. We added 23 new pledge units for 2008. That's growth. You just can't see it online. I don't know what the pattern will be in 2-3 years, but for now we are adding new families regularly. Growth is inherent to the faith. If growth is NOT happening, there's a problem. That's just my $.02. Peace, Scott Fair enough, based on the data you can see. There are two things that mitigate that data. First, that single year of precipitous decline (after several stable years, which should indicate a data anomaly), was mostly due to a reporting variance. There was a change in the method of recording attendance. Previously, a children’s service was recorded, and that didn’t happen. Second, during the interim period, no one knew about properly recording Sunday afternoon and vigil services as part of Sunday, so there was a decline.

Here’s what I can tell you. So far in 2008, our worship attendance (not counting a children’s service) is up about 30% over last year. Apples to apples. We added 23 new pledge units for 2008.

That’s growth. You just can’t see it online.

I don’t know what the pattern will be in 2-3 years, but for now we are adding new families regularly.

Growth is inherent to the faith. If growth is NOT happening, there’s a problem. That’s just my $.02.

Peace,
Scott

]]> By: Rob http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2008/02/19/ecusa-is-winningthe-race-of-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-146 Rob Sun, 09 Mar 2008 05:38:38 +0000 http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2008/02/19/ecusa-is-winningthe-race-of-decline/#comment-146 Rev Scott, you stated that growth is still happening despite not having a parking lot. I looked on the Episcopal website and found that Christ Church, Lincoln's stat page here: http://12.0.101.92/reports/PR_ChartsDemo/exports/ParishRPT_392008124758AM.pdf I would call that precipitous decline, not growth. Rev Scott, you stated that growth is still happening despite not having a parking lot. I looked on the Episcopal website and found that Christ Church, Lincoln’s stat page here:

http://12.0.101.92/reports/PR_ChartsDemo/exports/ParishRPT_392008124758AM.pdf

I would call that precipitous decline, not growth.

]]> By: Frank C http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2008/02/19/ecusa-is-winningthe-race-of-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Frank C Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:56:53 +0000 http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2008/02/19/ecusa-is-winningthe-race-of-decline/#comment-47 I am currently attending an Episcopal Church in CT after many years as a lapsed Methodist. I actually enjoy the Episcopal Church for their inclusivity! The pastor was so worried that the split culminating in the Episcopal Church would deter me from joining (as well as converting, which I am doing---you can change that percent of 4.15!!) It is actually nice to go to Church and just enjoy it--I particularly do not care for Churches that discriminate or become so politically overinvolved with issues that they forget the entire purpose of Church as well as Christianity. Pax, Frank C I am currently attending an Episcopal Church in CT after many years as a lapsed Methodist. I actually enjoy the Episcopal Church for their inclusivity! The pastor was so worried that the split culminating in the Episcopal Church would deter me from joining (as well as converting, which I am doing—you can change that percent of 4.15!!) It is actually nice to go to Church and just enjoy it–I particularly do not care for Churches that discriminate or become so politically overinvolved with issues that they forget the entire purpose of Church as well as Christianity.

Pax,

Frank C

]]> By: Scott Gunn http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2008/02/19/ecusa-is-winningthe-race-of-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Scott Gunn Mon, 25 Feb 2008 02:41:58 +0000 http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2008/02/19/ecusa-is-winningthe-race-of-decline/#comment-29 Well, sure. Everyone in a church can come up with a reason why they're there. But my experience is that it's (a) often not a compelling reason and (b) the church doesn't share a common purpose. The result is that a few comfortable insiders show up week by week, and the congregation withers, slowly. Mind you, this is not the case everywhere. I'm doing my part in Rhode Island, along with a few others. Our worship attendance is 30% higher so far in 2008 than for the same period in 2007. So, my question remains: why do people bother to come to church? Is it a reason that involves transformation? New life? Salvation? Pax, Scott P.S. We don't have a parking lot either, but growth is still happening. Well, sure. Everyone in a church can come up with a reason why they’re there. But my experience is that it’s (a) often not a compelling reason and (b) the church doesn’t share a common purpose. The result is that a few comfortable insiders show up week by week, and the congregation withers, slowly.

Mind you, this is not the case everywhere. I’m doing my part in Rhode Island, along with a few others. Our worship attendance is 30% higher so far in 2008 than for the same period in 2007.

So, my question remains: why do people bother to come to church? Is it a reason that involves transformation? New life? Salvation?

Pax,
Scott

P.S. We don’t have a parking lot either, but growth is still happening.

]]> By: Josh Indiana http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2008/02/19/ecusa-is-winningthe-race-of-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Josh Indiana Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:04:45 +0000 http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2008/02/19/ecusa-is-winningthe-race-of-decline/#comment-28 I don't know of any church that has forgotten why we're here. But I know many that suffer for lack of a parking lot. I don’t know of any church that has forgotten why we’re here. But I know many that suffer for lack of a parking lot.

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