From the Journal:
The Anglican diocese of Quebec is “teetering on the verge of extinction” as parish finances continue to collapse and the number of parishioners dwindles.
This doom-and-gloom message was delivered to the recent Canadian House of Bishops meeting here by Bishop Dennis Drainville, who declared that he could possibly be “the last bishop of Quebec.”
Bishop Drainville urged the House of Bishops to have a “new vision” and to look at how “old relationships and structures” can be changed to respond to the needs of the times.
People are looking for three things in a church, he said: “a compassionate, caring community, a transformational relationship with God, and life-changing liturgy.” Although the Anglican church has these, “…we don’t know how to present this to society,” he said.
I have an idea: how about preaching the Gospel?
Can’t possibly work, David. I mean it’s just so uncool to have all those rules and things that we didn’t get to vote on.
If I remember right, having acknowledged the problem, the solution tends to be in the category of more heresy rather than less.
“We must make the Church more relevant to attract more people! And by relevant, we mean of course more political.”
“That’s odd: our turning political has not attracted more members. It would appear we have not been political enough.”
“Hmmm: now we’re actually losing members. The answer is obviously that still more politics are needed.”
“Uh oh, we’re having a catastrophic membership decline! And we’re in financial trouble too! There is only one possible solution to this predicament: to survive, we must be super-duper political!”
Etc, etc.
#3 – reminds me of sex education!
He also warns of other dioceses on the brink. I wonder who they are? And please no puns about Niagara on the brink of the falls. Too corny……………oh rats let them come. Make my day.