A Volley from the Canon, Number 94 Growth and Decline 4

A VOLLEY FROM THE CANON, NUMBER 94

EPISCOPAL CHURCH GROWTH AND DECLINE, PART IV


FACTORS THAT CAUSE CONGREGATIONS TO DECLINE

1. Conflict in the congregation.
Among those congregations reporting a decline in attendance,
23% report “little or no” conflict, sloping up to
77% reporting “greatest conflict.”

2. The source of conflict is most likely to be the priest’s leadership style (58% declining) or budget woes (58%), and more distantly be ordination of gay clergy (39%) among those reporting the most serious conflict.

3. When congregations always kneel for prayer, 30% are growing. Among those who never or seldom kneel for prayer, 45% are growing. (Could these also be affected by other factors, such as newness or younger age?)

4. Leaders holding onto key positions contributes to membership decline.
Where there is a lot of leadership post rotation, 22% are declining.
Where there is a small amount of rotation, 36% are declining.
Where the same people tend to serve in the same roles, 50% are declining.

5. High proportion of spending on building maintenance relates to declining membership.
If 10% or less of budget goes to B&G, 23% are declining.
If 50% or more of budget goes to B&G, 50% are declining, with stair-step intervals in
between.

6. If clergy leave too soon, or stay too long, the congregation declines.
When the rector or vicar was called in the past three years, under 20% are growing.
When the rector or vicar was called four to ten years ago, the scale ranges from 38% growing (at ten years) to 51% growing (four years). After ten years, the percentage growing drops to 27

7. Reducing clergy attention accompanies decline.
When congregations have an interim, or no priest, 51% are declining.
When there is a part-time or retired priest, 47% are declining.
Where there is one priest, 32% are declining.
Where there are multiple priests on staff, 24% are declining.