[Magdalen] Priest in Charge.

[Jim Guthrie]

From: anthony clavier

>he fact that Eucharistic communities encased in a particular site
>r structure dwindle is not an indication of failure: merely that it has
>eased to be the geographical location where it may flourish. Granted there
>re situations where community and location both fail, but in other cases
>he community may be liberated by abandoning its site in order to become a
>hurch plant. (I hate that term. Sounds like an Easter lily.)

The country is littered with failed TEC parishes, Tony. One can understand a 
closed parish in an area where there has been substantial population loss, but 
there are plenty of parishes that have closed simply because of the failure of 
both lay and clerical leadership.

We had two parishes in the Diocese of LI when I was active there that were 
always proclaiming how great things were going, and then one day surrendered the 
keys to the Bishop because they could not pay the bills.

And we have al those "bare ruined choirs" like the closed parishes in the 
diocese of New York, located down the street from another parish because of 19th 
century battles over candles and churchmanship and in at least one case, which 
hymnal to use!

And we're not alone in this --  the RCC has a tremendous problem with changing 
demographics and the failure to attract enough clergy to handle the parishes 
they haven't yet closed, but their polity allows Bishops to pull the plug --  
something more difficult (and far more distasteful) for TEC Bishops. Of course, 
"failed parish" in the eyes of a RCC Bishop might have 400 worshippers but . . . 
<g>

Other mainline churches have the same issues -- in urban areas often sold to 
independent ethnic congregations  -- Korean, Chinese, Hispanic often appending 
name of a traditional U.S. denomination (Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal 
etc.) -- failing the struggle to keep their WASP character in a changing 
neighborhood.

I hasten to add that in the case off the RCC, they've been dealing with failed 
parishes and membership losses (replace in part by Hispanics -- a situation that 
would put the RCC out of business if Trump deported 11-million <g>. But their 
holding steady of the "hot button" issues that have riled some places in TEC, 
show for all to see the TEC Smarmy-brigade that says declines in membership are 
because of OW or welcoming LGBT people as full members.

I've forgotten whether it was Robert Englund of Don Perschall who once claimed 
that the reason the RCC diocese of Newark had to close some 40 parishes was that 
Bishop Spong had caused Roman Catholics to drop out of church. Who knew a TEC 
Bishop could have such a profound effect <g>?


Cheers,
Jim