Parishes and missions have declined by 69, baptized members have dropped by 50,000, communicants in good standing have declined by 42,000, Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) by 22,000 and church school pupils down by 10,000. Confirmations have declined by 600; marriages have dropped by more than 1,169 or 9%. Clergy losses continue to grow. In 2008 there were 18,002, but by 2009 it was down to 17, 868. There are more retired priests working now because parishes can no longer afford a full time priest.
Editor's Note: the decline continues in the DCNY. One priest recently fled a downtown church for a downtown church in a smaller town which presumably has a better endowment situation at this point. The parish in Greene that was until recently a full time position is now being linked with two other congregations and is being led by a diocesan (read poorly) trained deacon who will be one day be ordained priest.
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