tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post2057478206162647405..comments2023-11-28T12:21:53.986-08:00Comments on Kevin on Congregations: Why Your ASA (Average Sunday Attendance) MattersDean Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10900463973040820047noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post-58011686865450100432017-08-15T08:25:17.323-07:002017-08-15T08:25:17.323-07:00My experience is that the increase in P&P in s...My experience is that the increase in P&P in shrinking congregations (ASA) is often driven by paying the costs of operations. BTW smaller congregations survive by not paying the compensation of a full time clergy, going to bi-vocational, part-time, or retired folks. Survival is the mother of invention :-)<br />Dean Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10900463973040820047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post-11605702569774508552017-08-14T19:33:23.091-07:002017-08-14T19:33:23.091-07:00In my recent analysis in the Diocese of Maryland o...In <a href="http://kingslynn.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-diocese-by-numbers-money.html" rel="nofollow">my recent analysis in the Diocese of Maryland</a> one can see that P&P per attendee has increased, over a decade basically by a constant multiplier. The distribution of income is almost identical in 2005 and 2015 when this adjustment is taken into account.C. Wingatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13335513246185768918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post-91291334978917179682016-05-25T17:22:22.767-07:002016-05-25T17:22:22.767-07:00I agree with much of your post. Even if you look ...I agree with much of your post. Even if you look at the financial information, while it is often increasing it seldom goes ahead of inflation. Kevin on Congregationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14197344298971181963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post-91474774271863317232016-05-25T15:52:46.259-07:002016-05-25T15:52:46.259-07:00Kevin,
The ASA has generally been the indicator o...Kevin,<br /><br />The ASA has generally been the indicator of growth in TEC. Unfortunately, for most dioceses and congregations, there is minimal or no growth. Is this a problem, not really if one looks at the revenue side of the charts, the revenue has in most cases stayed the same or actually risen over the past ten years. So essentially no incentive to grow at least in NC.<br /><br />In most organizations growth is important (Healthy things grow). But not so in TEC. Consultants (I being one) like to analyze and find problems. So on one hand your post analyzes ASA, yet also speaks to “the overall trend of the decline of the Episcopal Church and “ the denomination remains in decline”.<br /><br />One can always analyze, yet the decline will continue. The main issue in TEC is to arrest the decline and initiate a growth strategy. In my opinion, mainline denominations have to reach a very different demographic than what they have related to in the past. That means new models for congregations, better selection of clergy with entrepreneurial skills and adequate funding to achieve positive growth.<br /><br />If the last 20 years are any indication of growth strategies in TEC, nothing will happen. At the national level there is a completely different set of priorities. At the diocese and congregation level, for the most part, maintenance mode is the norm. Of course TEC and other mainlines will continue to exist, but in the case of TEC, the numbers suggest that it is such a small segment of the population that it will become (or is) almost irrelevant unless there is any kind dedicated growth strategy.<br /><br /><br />Jim Baker<br />Cary, NC<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post-68228153243290377612016-05-20T17:57:27.035-07:002016-05-20T17:57:27.035-07:00C. Wingate, yes such contextual information is ver...C. Wingate, yes such contextual information is very helpful to a congregation. Some churches have little opportunity for growth and decline may be the fate of others given the demographics. You will want to see in my next blog how I use this info in a diagnostic way. Kevin on Congregationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14197344298971181963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post-25526696070536785802016-05-20T13:37:34.981-07:002016-05-20T13:37:34.981-07:00One thing that should be added is that the same fa...One thing that should be added is that the same facility at the national church website which serves up charts of ASA and membership will also produce a description of the community surrounding a parish. many rural parishes and some in cities get caught in demographic vises where the people simply are no longer there to attend the church, but if you are in a growing area, and your ASA is shrinking, really that is a sign that something ought to be done.<br /><br />I have been watching the statistics for many years now, almost a decade in fact. To me it seems that ASA is a nearly ideal basic measure of religious activity, as it is objective and easy to measure accurately. the problem I see with it is rather obviously in the message: that we aren't doing well. We have seen a 3% drop in ASA basically every year since 2003, and you could argue for the trend starting in 2001. Comparing the numbers for the various rites, it could be also argued that the principal source of losses is departures of adult members. But that is a very unwelcome message.<br />C. Wingatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13335513246185768918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post-171390278709431052016-05-17T15:16:41.809-07:002016-05-17T15:16:41.809-07:00I've always been a bit ambivalent about whethe...I've always been a bit ambivalent about whether that is a good idea.Dean Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10900463973040820047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306378782640780675.post-50148035445694784132016-05-17T08:52:41.076-07:002016-05-17T08:52:41.076-07:00This is a good post. One other problem is when you...This is a good post. One other problem is when you have a diocese, like the one I'm in, where their only interest in it is to determine Synod Delegates. Donaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14038665790203408503noreply@blogger.com