ROBINSON: "Does this collar make me look fat?...BTW, did you say something?"
Posted on 02/09/2006 9:20:29 AM PST by Heartofsong83
Canadian Anglicans Becoming Extinct
By AFA Journal February 7, 2006
(AgapePress) - A new, independent report on the state of the Anglican Church of Canada shows a staggering decline in membership over the last 40 years.
Between 1961 and 2001 the Anglican Church of Canada, the Canadian branch of the worldwide Anglican community, lost 53 percent of its members, from 1.36 million to 642,000. However, the report also ominously stated that the decline is accelerating. While membership dropped 13 percent between 1981 and 1991, it fell 20 percent between 1991 and 2001.
According to The Church of England Newspaper, the report was prepared by Keith McKerracher, a retired marketing expert. It was presented to the House of Bishops.
McKerracher said in subsequent interviews: "My point to the bishops was, 'Hey listen, guys, we're declining much faster than any other church. We're losing 12,836 Anglicans a year. That's 2 percent a year. If you draw a line on the graph, there'll only be one person left in the [Canadian] Anglican church by 2061.'"
The Anglican Church of Canada, like its sister branch in the U.S., the Episcopal Church USA, has been steadily trending liberal over the last four decades. That is probably the reason for the Canadian church's decline, according to Ted Byfield.
Byfield is a long-time observer of Canadian culture. He published a weekly news magazine in Canada for 30 years and now serves as general editor of The Christians, a 12-volume history of Christianity.
In a column for WorldNetDaily, Byfield spoke of the Anglican Church of Canada's "consistent departure from traditional Christian teaching, which has been going on throughout the whole 40-year period of decline.
"It began with the acceptance of serial marriage, progressed to the ordination of women, then to the funding of terrorist groups in Africa, and finally to the acceptance of homosexual practice. The church's latest foray is its tacit approval of homosexual marriage, which has seen it virtually disowned by the Anglican churches of Africa and Asia."
McKerracher did not think the Anglican leadership in Canada would respond to the new report with any significant changes.
"The church is in real crisis. They can't carry on like it's business as usual. They talk things to death," he said. "And my impression is that the bishops are not going to go around telling priests to shape up."
Almost as if to confirm McKerracher's impression, Canadian Archbishop Andrew Hutchison told The Church of England Newspaper that although the report was a "wake-up call," he hoped a new emphasis on social justice and ecumenical cooperation would stem the decline.
There is a good reason why I recently left that church.
RE: How the Anglican Church of Canada is rapidly losing members.
"Almost as if to confirm McKerracher's impression, Canadian Archbishop Andrew Hutchison told The Church of England Newspaper that although the report was a "wake-up call," he hoped a new emphasis on social justice and ecumenical cooperation would stem the decline."
I thought you all might be interested in this.
ROBINSON: "Does this collar make me look fat?...BTW, did you say something?"
They are called worship services, Bishop, not social justice and ecumenical cooperation services. People go to church to worship God, not to participate in the latest liberation theology activities. What a maroon.
Is there an alternative conservative anglican-communion church springing up in Canada akin to how the American Anglican churches are springing up to replace the former Episcopal churches?
Where are they going? Back into the Catholic fold, from where they departed, maybe?
My catholic church is packed with young people and babies. The catholic schools here in Kentucky are packed.
Increasingly that is the same in Canada, in many communities at least. Not sure about the largest cities.
That's where I went...
This is also the reason the wife and I left the ELCA last year for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Both organizations are headed by liberal/socialists who's agenda is socially oriented, instead of a committment to the religious health of their members.
I am going to assume you are in northern Kentucky and have a tradition of schools that are associated with the church. This is a good draw for the church though many in Cincinnati would like to see the church get out of the school business. The local parish with a school does well in demographics. The adjoining parishes without a school are all filled with gray and few children in attendance.
Funny, my Catholic church is full of families with lots of little kids.
Thought you and your Anglican ping list might be interested in this, buddy. ;)
Check out the last line.
Will the last person in the Anglican/
Episcopalian Church turn off the lights. Or maybe blow out only the candles.
Canada Ping!
Please FReepmail me to get on or off this Canada ping list.
"Is there an alternative conservative anglican-communion church springing up in Canada akin to how the American Anglican churches are springing up to replace the former Episcopal churches?"
Yes see the link.
http://www.acahome.org/tac/
The Anglican/Roman shift goes both ways. I am an Anglican, but I really can't see myself joining the Roman church. I am not willing to accept that the Pope is infallible, and I am not interested in the "Cult" of Mary.
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