From Victoria News:
The global economic crisis hit car manufactures, slammed the housing market and now, not even God can escape its economic wrath.
The Anglican Diocese of B.C. is in “crisis” and planning “drastic action,” to make up for dwindling revenues, declining attendance and increased deficit within its parishes totalling about $1 million.
The economy and declining attendance is likely to blame.
The diocese includes 64 churches on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, 26 in the Capital Region.
While there are more than 9,000 members on the islands, on average less than half that number attend weekly worship, down from about 5,000 regular attendees last year.
“The influx of people from other places who seek out Anglican chuches has diminished because it is part of the realities of the culture in which we live, that there’s at least one generation – maybe two generations of people – who really don’t care one was or another about religion,” said the Right Reverend James Cowan, bishop of the Anglican Diocese of B.C.
Several restructuring initiatives have already taken place. Operations on Thetis Island’s Camp Columbia have been suspended, and St. Alban’s church on Ryan Street in the Oaklands community closed its doors with a final service at the end of July.
Jeanette Muzio, member of the congregational development team will be meeting with diocese members to come up with a list of recommendations for further action.
These could include mergers, church closures and job reassignment in combined parishes.
h/t: Anglican Mainstream
“Congregational development”. That’s an interesting euphamism.
Actually they don’t care for his brand of Anglicanism. If it were just about religion ANiC would be facing the same decline.
How can they expect anyone to “care one way or another” about religion. This is exactly what the ACoC for the most part have beem preaching for a long time. If all religions lead to the same place as claimed by so-called bishops like Michael Ingham, what is the point of having any church? The only way for this diocese and the ACoC to redeem itself is to return to the true Gospel and accept and honour both the authority of Scripture and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.
If only the Diocese of Niagara were so blessed. Or is it and they are hiding it?
“there’s at least one generation – maybe two generations of people – who really don’t care one way or another about religion,” said the Right Reverend James Cowan, bishop of the Anglican Diocese of B.C.
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As Steve indicated above (#2), Cowan’s reasons for his diocese’s decline are not accurate. Church growth and health in many BC churches (outside of mainline liberalism) demonstrate that many people ARE in fact caring about religion. Cowan’s 64 churches produce an diocesan ASA of 3,856 (based on this blog’s Sept 15, 09 post). Since Victoria is my hometown (and checking their recent stats) I know that you only need to take the ASA’s of 3 churches (Glad Tidings, Lambick Park, and why not throw in Mark Buchanan’s New Life Community in Duncan for good measure) to leave Cowan-Anglicanism in the dust.
Why care a whit about religion when you don’t have a personal relationship with a loving savior? The bishop’s complaint betrays the bishop’s weakness. The Great Commandment did not say, “Go and spread my Religion to those who happen to be interested.”
Ah Mr. Rabbit such accurate use of hammer and nail!
Two things – “Relationship” such a misunderstood and shadowy word in this so called post-modern time. Second the “Bishop’s weakness” may be best understood in the light, or lack thereof as descibed herein.
1 John 1
1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Cowan says “don’t care about religion” ………….
If his statement is to be taken as correct then he should talk to the one or two generations of Christians in Africa, N & S America, Asia, Europe and elsewhere in the world who truly believe in the Risen Jesus Christ and who truly accept the Holy Bible as the infallible Word of God.
He should also talk to the muslims, hindus, buddhists and other “religions” who do not suffer the North American and Hollywood syndrome that has attacked the Christian Faith.
Cowan is doing what he, Ingham, Bird, Chappel and KJS do best..
He is passing the buck, laying the blame and doing those things that remove the responsibility from himself and those like him.
Gerry – A hah another nail hitter!
#5 Paul, of course you are right on the money. I think he would have been better spoken to say, “Many Anglican’s in the diocese of BC, including myself, have abandoned the Gospel for fancy liturgy and radical inclusion, and for this, we are under God’s judgment. Until we repent, which we have no intention of doing, things will continue to go down the proverbial tubes.” I can hear the flushing sound even now.
If the Lord does not build the house,
the work of the builders is useless;
If the LORD does not protect the city,
it is useless for the sentries to stand guard.
It is useless to work so hard for a living,
getting up early and going to bed late.
For the LORD provides for those he loves,
while they are asleep. Psalm 127:1-2
GOOD NEWS BIBLE
Thanks be to GOD!
Maya