"The Demographic Shift in the Diocese of Toronto"

Dynamic Clergy

The impact on the structure of the Diocese will be significant. Decentralization to Diocesan Areas will need to be scaled back as the number of buildings and clergy shrink. The present five Bishops can be reduced to two with only one hundred and thirty-three parishes to administer.

Scaled Back Ministry

Keys to growth will be, in order of importance, Youth and Children's Ministry, Stewardship, Church Planting, Small Group Spirituality, Public Relations and Humans Resources.

Fewer Clergy

There will be one hundred and twenty-six fewer clergy by A.D. 2018. Those who are left will tend to be the most dynamic and to be far more influential. They will stay for longer term incumbencies (up to 20 - 30 years) and will be difficult to remove or replace. Many will die in office. They will be autocrats relying heavily on lay leadership and team ministry. We will move from a majority of family churches (up to 50 worshippers) to an equal spread of family, pastoral (fifty to one hundred and fifty) and program congregations (one hundred and fifty plus). This will change the dynamic of how congregations work and how the diocese services them. This is illustrated by Arlin J. Rothauge in his book "Sizing up a Congregation."

"Boomers Retirement Life."

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