A158 (Addressing Church Decline and Fostering Church Revitalization)
House of Bishops Message #66
The House of Bishops informs the House of Deputies that on Jun 24, 2024 it considered resolution A158 (Addressing Church Decline and Fostering Church Revitalization). The house acted to:
Take No Further Action
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,
That the 81st General Convention direct every diocese which has experienced a decline in Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) between 2013 and 2022 to submit a report to the Secretary of the General Convention by June 30, 2025 that includes (1) a straight-line forecast of ASA for the following decade; (2) the diocese’s efforts to halt or reverse the decline in ASA and other membership statistics, if any; and (3) all quantitative data on the efficacy of those efforts, if any; and be it further
Resolved, That the author(s), length, and format of the report is left to the discretion of each diocese but the Ecclesiastical Authority in each diocese is to signify their assent to its publication and dissemination; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the General Convention publish the reports on the General Convention website in their entirety once they are received in the language originally received, but will translate the reports as soon as possible, with the exception of large quantitative datasets for which it may not be prudent to publish on a website, but which will be made available upon request; and be it further
Resolved, That a clearing-house of resources to address decline and foster church revitalization be created by December 31, 2025; and be it further
Resolved, That a Church Revitalization Audit be done and a report submitted to the 82nd General Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the Budget Committee of Executive Council consider a budget allocation of $100,000 to fund the Church Revitalization Audit.