In a sobering report released this week, the data from the 2019 parochial reports (submitted annually by each parish church, and which include data on average attendance and giving) paint a picture of a continued steady decline.
“There’ve been protests before. But something’s different about this one. This time it’s not just black folk and a few white folk protesting. This time it is the rainbow children of God. This time they are black and white and Anglo and Latino. It’s amazing. They’re gay, they’re straight. They’re Mitt Romney, a Republican. This is something different going on. And that gives me hope. God’s got a witness and it is a multiethnic, it is e pluribus unum.” – Presiding Bishop Michael Curry addressing the opening of the Executive Council’s virtual meeting.
Last year’s General Convention debates over Israel, Palestine, and the path to peace in the Holy Lands was fraught, but the Fall meeting of the Executive Council has returned to the challenge, hoping to find a way to thread the needle of support for the human rights of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories through economic pressure that does not fall under the controversial umbrella of BDS.
As it begins working on the proposed budget, Executive Council faces some difficult choices, and begins with assumed cuts to evangelism efforts.
The Episcopal News Service reflects on the recent meeting of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, calling it “a historic meeting … marked by
The report, presented during a meeting of Executive Council’s Joint Standing Committee on Finances for Mission, marks the first time since a misconduct scandal broke in December that the church has publicly acknowledged a problem in its systems for uncovering misconduct.
The Executive Council of TEC met this week, from the 8th until the 10th, at the Oak Ridge Hotel & Conference Center in Chaska MN.
I really believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ matters, and that its presentation by the Episcopal Church matters, profoundly and critically, in these times in which we’re living. Let me show you what I mean.
“If our quest for institutional parity prevents us from standing in the crowd alongside the woman who touched Jesus’ garment to be made well, then no number of women clergy or bishops will ever make us whole.” -Jennings
Episcopal News Service has several reports from the Executive Council meeting held over the weekend in Fort Worth, and will have further coverage as details emerge. We invite your comments on this recent meeting.