The predicament in Alexandria

The following is from the Washington Times story on Christ Church, Alexandria becoming involved in the lawsuit of the Diocese of Virginia against Truro Church and The Fall's Church (for the full story, see below):

"On Sunday, some worried that Christ Church's involvement - however distant - in a lawsuit could make its finances precarious. The church has a $135,000 deficit, and only 507 of its 2,459 members - or one-fifth - actually give."

Let's analyze this little gem.

First, we have a church that claims 2,459 members, but can only identify 507 financial givers. Even with the possibility that some of their "members" may give cash without envelopes and without disclosing who they are to Christ Church, how can a parish of 2,459 members have only 507 financial givers?

The answer is that they don't have 2,459 members. It is likely that Christ Church never had 2,459 members. pecusa churches often do not keep clean books. Members who are inactive, some who have died or moved away, are kept on the active roles. Hence, a church that claims 2,459 members has less than 25% of that number as identifiable givers. The likelihood is that Christ Church is still a large church by pecusa standards, but half the size or less than they claim.

Now, take that church, add a $135,000 deficit and you can see that their situation is precarious. Whatever trade-offs the members are willing to make to stay in this parish could be jeopardized by entering into the lawsuit against other churches. Perhaps some members could stomach liberal theology, but suing other churches is going too far. Perhaps even the true number of members includes a number of folks with tenuous relationships to the parish. Whatever the reason, some members are raising the flag and saying that the parish should not be a part of the diocese's expensive lawsuits. Will the leadership of Christ Church listen? Probably not.