Episcopal Clergy Trends Report Issued
Diocesan Press Service. December 21, 1973 [73278]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The total number of clergy in the Episcopal Church has increased by 906, an increase of 7.9 percent between 1968 and 1972, according to a report on distribution and deployment of the clergy of the Church, issued by the Clergy Deployment Office (CDO).
The report, "Distribution and Deployment of Clergy in the Episcopal Church 1968-1972,' was prepared by the CDO with the cooperation of the finance department of the Executive Council. It provides statistics on trends over the five year period in such areas as number of clergy, ordinations, postulants, baptized and communicant membership, ratio of clergy to baptized members and congregations, parochial and non-parochial ministries, vacant cures, and clergy mobility.
Over the five year period from 1968 to 1972, the total number of clergy -- bishops, presbyters (priests of the second order), and deacons -- increased about 200 per year or 2.0 percent, and in 1972 there were almost 12,500 clergymen. There are indications, the report said, that this rate of increase will continue.
The number of bishops has increased by 24, which is due to the increase in retirements, not in the number of active bishops, which has remained constant. Presbyters account for the major proportion of the increase -- 810 -- and deacons increased by 72. In 1972, of the total clergy, presbyters account for 93 percent, deacons 5 percent and bishops 2 percent. "This proportion remains relatively constant each year, "the report says.
"During the same five year period, " the report indicates, "both baptized and communicant membership decreased annually." Baptized membership has decreased by 9.6 percent (from 3,536,099 to 3,198,210) and communicants by 7.8 percent (from 2,322,911 to 2,154,103).
"Since membership decreased," the report says, "and number of clergy increased, this is reflected in a lower ratio of membership to clergy." The ratio of baptized members per clergyman has decreased from 316 in 1968 to 266 in 1972, and the communicant ratio has decreased from 208 in 1968 to 179 in 1972.
The number of congregations has increased from 7,511 in 1968 to 7,594 in 1972. Since "both numbers of congregations and clergy have increased," the report says, "the ratio of clergymen for each congregation has changed little, from 1.5 in 1968 to 1.6 clergymen per congregation in 1972."
During the five year period, the number of ordinations to the priesthood has decreased from 352 in 1968 to 307 in 1972, and the number of deacons' ordinations from 406 to 337, a decrease of 12.8 percent and 17.0 percent respectively. The report indicates that "whether this decrease is constant still remains to be seen" since there were increases in priests' ordinations in both 1970 and 1971. "However, " the report says, "the decrease in numbers of deacons ordained is steady, and would perhaps indicate a continued smaller number of presbyter ordinations. "
Another indication that future ordinations to the priesthood will be fewer in number is the fact that there were 8.7 percent fewer postulants and 10.6 percent fewer candidates in 1972 than in 1968.
An annual loss of 208 clergy in 1972 -- by death, resignation, suspension and deposition -- is "considerably less than clergy additions which total over 600, and results in a continuing net increase," the report notes.
Parochial ministry, which includes clergymen in charge of and assisting in U.S. and overseas parishes and missions, remains the major area of ministry, the report shows. In 1972, 61.5 percent of the total clergy were in the parochial ministries, which represents 70.6 percent of all the active clergy. The report notes a "change in direction in this area over the past two years. " A previous decrease in parochial ministries was reversed in both 1971 and 1972, with an increase of 119 and 215 respectively. The report says that "although previous reports anticipated eventually only one-half of the Episcopal clergy would remain in parochial ministry, the last two years may indicate a renewed interest in the parishes.
This may be accounted for in part, the report says, because of the number of non- stipendiary clergy who are engaged in parochial ministries both as clergy in charge and as assistants. The number of non-stipendiary clergy "-- 187 in charge and 187 assisting -- comprises a total of 374 presbyters or 5.4 percent of all presbyters in the parochial ministry. More than two-thirds of all deacons who are serving in congregations as assistants are non- stipendiary.
In 1972, 13.2 percent of all clergy were in non-parochial ministries, the largest number in educational ministries (5.2 percent). There has been a decrease in the number of presbyters in college and university ministries, armed forces chaplains, full-time students, and staff members of councils of churches.
The report reveals that "a dramatic increase is seen in the numbers of clergy who are secularly employed and in the residual other category. " This group has almost doubled from 9.0 percent in 1968 to 17.4 percent in 1972. "Reflected in this trend," the report notes, "is the growing economic difficulties of parishes and the increasing costs of supporting a family. "
The number of retired clergy has increased by 247 persons since 1968, and this group now represents about one out of every eight clergymen in the Church. The increase was particularly noticeable from 1971 to 1972.
In 1972, 400 cures (5 percent) were vacant, an increase of 25 percent in vacancies from 1971 to 1972. The majority of the vacant cures have 1-199 communicants, which may mean, the report says, that it is "questionable as to ability to maintain an ongoing congregational staff and program. " However, the report indicates that data was available only for 1971 and 1972, and therefore "further years of figures are needed before it can be determined whether changes indicate trends. "
The report indicates that there is rather large mobility in parochial assignments. In 1971 and 1972, "about one out of every eight parochial positions had a change in staff. " There are about half as many changes among clergy in charge of parishes as among assisting clergy.
Further mobility is seen in the data which indicate that about one out of every 20 clergy moves across diocesan jurisdictions every year. "Between 1971 and 1972, " the report says, "clergy accepted into dioceses for canonical residence have decreased while those requesting such changes have increased, and may eventually result in increasing inter-diocesan transfers."
The report, according to the CDO, will be of greatest interest to diocesan commissions on ministry. A limited number of copies of the report is available for $2.00 each from: Clergy Deployment Office, 815 Second Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017.