Mrs. Jefferts Schori continues to argue that only a miniscule number of churches (1%) are leaving The Episcopal Church. This belies the fact that this one single church of 555 members is the equivalent of 8 to 10 mid-size parishes, in terms of overall attendance, leaving at one time! She may continue to believe her own propaganda, but with the departure rate of Episcopalians rising to well over 1,000 a week - all dues paying members one should hastily add - there is little doubt that the national church's budget is being affected by the loss of income from these fleeing orthodox Episcopalians!
Editor's Note: We all try to frame our arguments in ways that favor our interpretation. The Presiding Bishop, Episcopal News Service and other pecusa leaders too often do this in ways that distort reality. Even if her 1% figure is true, the churches that pecusa is losing are many of her largest ones. In Virginia it's Truro and the Falls Church. In Texas it's Christ Church, Plano. In Kansas, it's a megachurch in Overland Park. In Florida, it's Trinity, Vero Beach.
Pecusa is also losing midsize churches, including a fair number in Virginia, Texas, Florida, Ohio and elsewhere. This 1% of congregations equals thousands of members. It has been reported that pecusa is losing 1,000 members a week. You would think that instead of misrepresenting the current reality pecusa might find ways to stop the flow. But, of course, that would call for repentance and a return to the robust Anglicanism that pecusa will not accept.
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