Canada: Anglican Church a Twitter over empty pews

Jane Armstrong
Vancouver
Wednesday, Mar. 10, 2010

Faced with declining enrolment and revenue that will force it to shutter churches on Vancouver Island, the Anglican Church is turning to the social medium where millions of followers already flock: Twitter.

The Anglican Diocese of British Columbia last weekend voted to close seven churches outright and move those congregations to "hub churches." The meeting, during which several members tweeted updates to followers, came on the heels of an ominous recent report that predicted that the once powerful church was headed for extinction unless dramatic changes occur.

In addition to recommending that churches close, the report described Canada as a post-Christian society and urged a change in attitude to attract new members, including embracing modern forms of evangelism. the rest

One of the comments on this story:
Here is my experience with the Anglican church:

Married in the local church, had son baptized there, and attended services regularly. Neighbors and family members went there also.

Stopped going for a full year. Nobody checked up on me. Not family, not neighbors, not clergy. Son gets birthday card in mail a year later from church. I write an email back to local minister say we haven't been there in a year and won't be coming back. His response is "thanks for letting me know". The shepherd lost a sheep, and could care less.

Oh, and two years after we were married, the other minister who married us announces he is gay. Then most recently he is arrested for possessing inappropriate images of children. Looks like this shepherd was actually the wolf.

And the other Anglican church we used to attend in the city, they had to put iron gates up on the front doors to stop people from using the porch for having sex and using drugs.

And outside the main cathedral downtown, best place to pick up prostitutes according to the local press and police. Lots of hookers at night, not so many clergy or parishioners.

There is nothing Christian left in the Anglican church, and that's why it is dying. Christ won't abandon those who do his bidding.

I started going to the Salvation Army 3 years ago. My family was heartily welcomed into the church and the local congregation is growing to the point where we need to physically expand the parking lot and building to meet the needs of the congregation. The pastor in this church chastised us twice for watching the Olympic Gold medal hockey game instead of being in Church for the evening service (I am in Newfoundland, the game was on during the supper hour). Pick the God you want to worship he says. He tells it like it is. He teaches God's word, and people flock to him.

I encourage Anglicans in similar situations to walk away from their dying Church and renew their faith elsewhere.