A Different Way – part 2

Today’s Reality

UCC Membership 1926 - 2000

The History of Decline

Between 1961 and 2001…• the United Church of Canada (UCC)

fell from 1.04 million to 638,000, a loss of 39 per cent.

• Anglican membership plunged from 1.36 million to 642,000 - a decline of 53 per cent.

Keith McKerracher, a retired marketing expert

The Future?Bishop Drainville: The Anglican diocese of Quebec is “teetering on the verge of extinction”. Quebec congregations (50 of 82) virtually have no children, 35 had parishioners with an average age of 75 and usually had only 8 to 10 people attending Sunday services. Anglican Journal, December 1, 2009.

“If trends in the United Church continue…only about 50,000 members will be standing by to blow out the candles on its 125th birthday.” David Haskell, Wilfred Laurier, Hamilton Spectator, 2005

The United Church of Canada2010 Observer Survey…• More than 1/3 say congregations

are not financially healthy• 46% say their church is shrinking• More than ½ do not expect to last

15 years• 24% give their congregations a 5

year life

Warning!!

Is this the New Reality?

Old• Born into the Christian tradition• Grew up in incorporating the basis of

faith and its practices and observances

New• Children no longer accept the

tradition• Individual search for value, meaning,

identity• Majority… may have a religious

background, but no longer practice

Spiritual Meaning - sources

• Family• Religion• Law• Government• Education• Healthcare

A New Era in the Church?

Old Religion• Dualism – church and the world• Missions• Worship is devotional• Expression - outward

New Spirituality• Outside the traditional church• Not outside God or the spirit• God cannot be contained• Expression - inward

Scriptures

Changing Times

The community may lose its taste for formally expressed religion, but the spiritual thirst remains.

Preserve the tradition…

“We believe that worship and the Eucharist are central to Anglican self-understanding. It is this worship and awe that propels us to reach out to others with the Gospel of God’s redeeming love in Jesus Christ.” Rev. Doug Stout

The Queen’s visit. Lorna Dueck, Globe and Mail, Tuesday, Jul. 06, 2010

Or, move forward…

Religion needs to

reach into itself to

reveal the spirituality that is the basis of its

light and wisdom.

Spirituality defined…

…an awareness of relationships with all creation, an appreciation of presence and purpose that includes a sense of meaning. (Fitchett & Handzo, 1998).

What can the church do looking forward?

1.Nature 2.Language3.Community

Nature and Spiritual Renewal

A new awareness of natureClimate changePreservation of lands and

speciesPolitics of nature

Language and Spiritual Renewal

• Salvation• Stories – creation• One God• Original sin• Conversion

• Reconnection• Dynamic whole• Universe is ONE• Consumer dreams• New thirst

Community and Spiritual Renewal

• Relationships• Responsibility• Cooperation• Connectivity• Common search

A Different Way