Parochial report data sets records, and not in a good way

The results of the annual parochial for 2022 have been released, and the results are grim.

Highlights:

Active membership decreased at a record pace of 5.81%, or 88,306 persons, the largest decrease ever. Total active baptized members totalled 1,432,082.
The five-year decline in membership grew to 15%.
The ten-year decline in membership grew to 23%.
Although Average Weekly Attendance (AWA) increased by 56,306, it failed to offset the prior year’s decrease of 165,328.
Church finances continued to decline, with purchasing power declining sharply due to an 8 percent average inflation rate during the year.
Total congregational investments dropped by almost $700,000.000.
Another 45 parishes/missions closed.
55% of parishes declined in membership by 10 percent or more—a sharp increase from the previous year’s 44%.
Over a five-year period, the church lost 34% of its AWA.

In short, nothing new or unexpected. But absent a huge turnaround, the end of the Episcopal Church is coming quickly.

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