David Ewart

The Long Emergency

Note: The following is based on a sermon given February 24, 2008, at Capilano United Church, North Vancouver, BC; the day of the congregation's Annual Meeting.

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Every year for the past 40 years, the United Church of Canada has reported membership declines of 1 or 2% per year. Taken one year at a time, a change of 1 or 2% is not a crisis. But 40 years of year after year declines become a long emergency. (See Footnote 1.)

75% of Members Leave Last Year! (Just Imagine)

Imagine what we would be talking about today at our meeting if - instead of reporting a loss by death of two faithful members this past year, bringing our total membership to 60 - we were reporting 40 years of change in a single year - a decline from 245 in 1965 to the present 60! That would be an immediate emergency.

United Church of Canada Financial Trends

Since my previous "trends" post (click here to view that post), I have had a chance to do some rough analysis of the financial data.

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You will need to view the PDF version to see the tables and charts, so I will tantalize you with the conclusion ...

My prediction is that if nothing changes the steady decline in our “people data,” the tremendous assets of our property and investments will become an unmanageable burden that will overwhelm the capablilities of many congregations and force their closure as they are unable to cope with building operation, maintenance, and capital repairs and upgrades. We are asset rich and people poor, and our wealth just might be the death of us.

Be sure to click on the heading of this post to read the interesting comments that have been made.