Family	Pastoral	Transitional	Program	Corporate	Resource
3-75	76-140	141-224	225-880	881-2,000	over 4,000
35-40 healthy	after 140 tend to need more than 1 clergy	emphathy for the clergy

Facts (averages) about Episcopal congregations

Median seating capacity in sanctuaries is 180 people.

Only 14% have sanctuaries that seat more than 300.

20% seat 100 or fewer.

50% seat between 126 and 300.

12 1/2% of the congregations share worship space with another congregation.

ASA is 129 (incl all morning services.

70% offer 2 or more services on the weekend and worship style varies in 67% of those congregations.

Majorities report that worship always or often includes:

98% reading/recitation of creeds or statement of faith
94% organ and or piano music
82% use of incense and or candles
69% contact visitors in person or by phone within a few days or a week of the visit (1 wk is almost a must)
14% send a letter to visitors
23% provide special parking and/or seating for visitors

Small minorities report that worship always or often includes:

2% dance or drama
3% recorder music
3% visual projection equipment
5% a time for members to testify about their faith

86% had conflict in the past 5 years:

17% priest's leadership style
11% money/finance/budget
10% who makes a decision
7% member's personal behavior
6% how worship is conducted
5% program/mission priorities
4% theology

Average expenditures %

46% staff salaries & benefits
23% utilities, bldg upkeep & other congregational operations
11% Episcopal mission work
7% Capital improvments
6% program support & materials
3% other local mission work
2% reserve or investments

Demographics

45% married
41% college graduates
29% female (big surprise)
18% age 60 or over (we must learn how to reach those under 60!!)
15% live near the church
13% $75,000+ household income
2% less than $20,000 household income

Four Basic Suppositions

Courtesy of "Episcopal Diocese of Texas, CDC"

1. CONGREGATIONS ARE CONGREGATIONS!

A. They are more alike based on size and location than on arbitrary distinctions like Parish and Mission

B. Groups of people act more like groups of people than like Episacopalians, Lutherans or Baptists.

C. Many times being "Episcopalian" is a rationalization to justify local irrational behavior.

2. ALL CONGREGATIONS HAVE DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES

A. No congregation has arrived at perfection

3.MOST CONGREGATIONS HAVE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

A.Most mainline leadership believes that growth is a factor of demographics.

B. Consultants know that growth is most related to present membership attitudes and behavior.

4. SOME CONGREGATIONS NEED ALERNATIVE AND INNOVATIVE FORMS OF MINISTRY

A. We live in a time of shifting paradigms.

The 21st Century Church

There has been much written about the changing face of the church. Loren Meade's, "Once and Future Church" described the changing shape of paradigm for a church rooted in "Christendom" to a rediscovering of an apostolic worldview. A visit to a bookstore will reveal a myriad of approaches and viewpoints about how the world has changed and therefore how the church must change to be effective and vital in the 21st century (editor's note: It is not just the church that is having a problem recognizing the change but also secular retailers and manufacturers). So much has been written about "paradigm" shift that to some it has become a dirty word. So, let's not use the P-word, lets instead just talk about what the church may look like as it seeks to be faithful to mission and characteristics we might look for in a vital and healthy congregation. Bishop Lee of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia has often said, 'in every congregation I believe rests the vision, gifts, resources and commitment to carry out the mission of the church." In addition Bishop Lee has called all of our congregations to be "missionary centers" reaching out in new ways to the communities around us rather than "feeding stations" where like consumers we come and take what is offered. These words reflect a vision for the church that is a shift from communities of faith where people come to be cared for by clergy to communities of vision where people's lives are transformed and sent out into the world to do the work of the church. Here's a look at how the church was and is, and needs to be.

The 20th Century Church
	Structures around communities A mandate is given from hierarchy People are recruited to carry out the mandate Procedures and policies are given to follow Liaisons are assigned to link the hierarchy People expected to do "the best they can" Committee is supervised or watched over

The 21st Century Church
	Operates on recognition of peoples innate skills and gifts People are called to mission The motive is mission not the completion of an assigned task

That leaves you to LEAD!