"The 2.4 million member Episcopal Church..."
PROVE IT! In 2003, I searched for independent sources that would confirm this number. That was 3 years & another computer ago, so I no longer have the sources to cite, but I do remember that I found several sources that pegged the membership in 2003 anywhere from a low of 950,000 to a high of 1.6 million. Knowing that the reputation of the Barna research group was widely respected, I checked to see what their data was. I found out that the ECUSA was one of the few denominations that did not regularly report its numbers for independent review. However, coincidental to that time, George Barna was interviewed & asked to give some background data on the ECUSA to supplement the story on the consecration of V. Gene Robinson. As I recall, Barna suggested that the estimated membership of the ECUSA was approx. 1.3 million, but that only 650,000 attended church "regularly," which was defined as "at least monthly." I wondered at the time how such a discrepancy could be accounted for.
In the months that followed, I was working to contact the members of two nearby ECUSA parishes to announce the start-up of a new Anglican Church in the area & to extend a personal invitation to visit. I was working from the CURRENT directories of both parishes & found that nearly 1/2 of the members listed were: a) dead; b) moved away; c) attending other non-ECUSA churches; AND most were not recent departures. I remember one, in particular, was a woman who'd been dead over 4 years! A number of the folks who were attending other churches actually told me that they had notified their old parish that they were leaving & had asked that their names be removed from the membership roster & mailing list. Most were surprised to learn that they were still listed as members.
Shortly after that, I remember reading a couple of Freeper's postings saying that they had left ECUSA in the wake of Robinson's election & had made NUMEROUS unsucessful requests that their names be stricken from the membership at their former parishes. Whether they ever were, I don't know. I had a similar experience. Having formally withdrawn my membership in July 2003, my old parish continued to carry my name in the 2004 roster & I continued to receive the Diocesan newsletter until sometime in 2005.
Based on my research & experience, ECUSA is grossly overstating its membership at 2.4 million. It's just a guess, but I'd say a more accurate number may be about 1/2 that (1.2 million) & probably no more than 2/3 attend church regularly. If that's accurate, then the ECUSA is really nothing more than a wart on the behind of the 77 million strong Anglican Communion - & a classic example of the tail trying to wag the dog.
As witty fellow puts it: the ECUSA is like the mouse with an erection, floating down the river on his back & hollaring "RAISE THE BRIDGE!"
One of those FReepers was me! And I am STILL getting the ECUSA diocesan newsletter.
Our family's expereince supports this. My husband called our parish to tell them we no longer wanted to be Episcopalians, and to please remove our names from their membership rolls. They refused, telling him that the only way they would do that would be for us to officially transfer to another Episcopal Church. We were not transferring, however. We were quitting! Since then, a new parish directory has been issued. Our names are still there (they did take out our pictures, however).
Also, delegate strength to the diocesan conventions is determined by the size of the parish. This is why parishes are tempted to 'fudge' their numbers. This is one of the ways in which the current faction running TEC has gained control.