Bucking the Trend: A Study of the Local Theologies Contributing to Numerically Growing Anglican Congregations in the Dioceses of Huron and Toronto by Grayhame Robert Bowcott A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Wycliffe College and the Toronto School of Theology. In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Ministry awarded by the University of Wycliffe College and the University of Toronto © Copyright by Grayhame Robert Bowcott 2020 Bucking the Trend: A Study of the Local Theologies Contributing to Numerically Growing Anglican Congregations in the Dioceses of Huron and Toronto Grayhame Robert Bowcott Doctor of Ministry Wycliffe College and the University of Toronto 2020 Abstract Demographic studies of the Anglican Church in Canada have shown that since peaking in the 1970s, average Sunday attendance among most Anglican congregations has been in decline. Evidence of this trend has been seen within the Dioceses of Huron and Toronto. In Huron there has been a decrease in Sunday worship attendance by 37% between the years 2007-2017. In this same period of time, the Diocese of Huron deconsecrated fifty-seven church buildings. The Diocese of Toronto has experienced a decrease in Sunday attendance by 33% between the years 2001-2017 with sixty-four deconsecrations taking place. Despite membership decline in Huron and Toronto, there are some congregations that are bucking the trend. Within the same reported periods, roughly eight percent of congregations in Huron experienced growth in their average Sunday attendance. In Toronto, the number was even greater with twenty-five percent of congregations reporting growth. What sets these growing congregations apart from the many others in decline? This research project is a phenomenological study of twelve numerically growing Anglican congregations in the Dioceses of Huron and Toronto. Using the Roman Catholic missiologist ii Robert Schreiter’s definition of local theologies, the project has collected expressions of locally held faith beliefs as articulated by lay leaders in each congregation. Through surveys, questionnaires and twelve appreciative inquiry group interviews, the study has sought to explore how the presence of certain key local theologies may be motivating congregations to seek out and foster new relationships, thus resulting in trends of membership growth. Throughout this dialogue, the researcher has solicited contributions from close to one thousand participants including both members and visitors. These contributions have documented trends in demographics, values and expectations found within each congregation. The study concludes that there is in fact a correlation between the presence of locally held theological beliefs and how these beliefs are motivating the practices of evangelism, outreach and membership growth within the twelve subject congregations. The subsequent analysis and recommendations within the study may provide insights as to how better understanding local theologies may be the starting point for reversing trends of membership decline in the Anglican Church of Canada. iii Acknowledgments This study has required weeks of research time away from my family and the parish that I serve. I am thankful for the love and support of my wife, Jacqueline and our two girls, Alyvia and Laelynn who didn’t see much of me for six months. During this time, my Associate, Archdeacon Judy Walton cared for the needs of my parish, allowing me the time and focus for this project. This was a great blessing for me. Thank you to St. George’s, The Parish of The Blue Mountains, and to each of the Anglican congregations who agreed to be part of this research project. There are two particular individuals who inspired me to pursue doctoral studies at TST. Their mentorship guided me through this process. Thank you to Dr. Gordon Hamilton, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament studies at Huron University. Thank you to Dr. John Bowen, Professor Emeritus of Evangelism at Wycliffe College. Your encouragement set me on the path of life-long learning. Your ministry of teaching modelled for me the joys of sharing that learning with others! A special word of thanks to Bishop Robert Bennett and Archbishop Linda Nicholls of Huron and Archbishop Colin Johnson, Bishop Andrew Asbil and Bishop Jenny Andison of Toronto for their research permission and support throughout the project. My hope is that the findings from this study will ultimately benefit our two dioceses. Thanks for making my study possible. There are a number of ministry professionals who formed a focus group in the planning stage of this project. Their expertise helped me to design a study for the benefit of congregational leaders. This group included: Peter Misiaszek, Director of Stewardship Development for the Diocese of Toronto; The Rev’d Canon Dr. Judy Paulsen, Director of the Institute of Evangelism, Wycliffe College; and Janet Marshall, Director of Congregational Development for the Diocese of Toronto. I am especially thankful for the mentorship of The late Rev’d Canon Dr. Duke Vipperman. Duke had a wonderful way of sharing the joys of ministry with others. May the Gospel seeds he planted in others flourish to the glory of God. Thank you to Dr. Joseph Mangina, my supervisor, and my alma mater, Wycliffe College. iv Contents Chapter 1: Introduction Finding Hope at the Vital Church Planting Conference………………………..................1 The “Contemporary Anglican Lament”………………………………………………..….2 Research Problem: The Challenge of Decline Among Anglican Congregations………....4 Anglican Membership Statistics in Canada………………………………….....…………6 The Absence of Congregational Theologies of Evangelism……………………………....7 Could a Congregation Buck the Trend?: The St. Anne’s Mission Story……..…..……….8 Research Interest: Exploring the Relationship Between Local Theologies and Congregational Growth…………………………...……………………………………...10 An Overview of the Ministry Base Context…………………………………………….. 12 Definitions and Limitations of the Study……………………..………………….............13 Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework and Theological Assumptions Seeking a Way Out from the Contemporary Anglican Lament………………….............22 The Praxis Model of Contextual Theology: Theology For the Purpose of Change……..23 St. Anne’s Mission and the Teachings of Jesus as a Blueprint for Ecclesiology..………24 Bishop Laurie Green’s Presentation of Theological Reflection…………………............30 Michael Moynagh and The “Sent Church”………………………………………………33 George Lings and Reproducing Churches……………………………………………….39 The Holy Trinity as Model for Christian Relationship……………………….………….40 Missio Dei and Its Implications on Anglican Ecclesiology……………………………...42 Mission Redefined by Lesslie Newbigin………………………………..………..……...42 The Study of Local Theologies: A Community Process……………………..……….….44 v Basic Theological Assumptions Held by the Researcher………………………………..45 Chapter 3: Research Project Description and Phenomenological Methodology Research Project……………………………………………………………....………….49 Adopting the Phenomenological Methodology…………..………………...……………51 A Mixed Methods Approach: Expanding the Relatability of the Study………...……….52 Research Parameters and Ethical Considerations……………………….……………….53 A Linear Report of the Research Methods Used in the Study: A Quantitative Assessment of Membership Statistics from the Dioceses of Huron and Toronto…………………………………………………………………..……………….54 Forming a Focus Group Consisting of Congregational Development Leaders………….56 The Scheduling of Twelve Congregational Research Days .............................................. 57 The Congregational Context Survey……………………………………………………..58 The Appreciative Inquiry Group Interview…………………………………....…………59 The Interview Questions ................................................................................................... 62 The Group Supplementary Questionnaire………………………….……...…….……….66 The Questions .................................................................................................................... 66 The Clergy Questionnaire………………………………………………………..............68 Data Collection…………………….………………………………..………...…………72 Chapter 4: Results of the Study Membership Trends in the Diocese of Huron……………………………………………74 Membership Trends in the Diocese of Toronto………………………………………….79 Contextual Descriptions of the Twelve Subject Congregations…………………………81 The Congregational Context Survey • What are the demographics of growing congregations?............................ 94 vi • A focus on youth ministry ……...……………………………………...... 94 • Growing senior congregations……………….…....…………...………… 96 • How new are the members of the congregation?....................................... 96 • What initially brought you to church?........................................................ 98 • What keeps you coming back?................................................................... 99 • Have you always been Anglican?.............................................................. 100 • Have you always been Christian?.............................................................. 101 • A ranking of congregational attributes in relationship to Church affiliation……………………...…………………………………………. 102 • Individual participation in congregational ministries………………......... 104 The Appreciative Inquiry Group Interview • The Composition of the Lay Leader Groups 106 • How would you describe your congregation to a newcomer?...................... 107 • Who are your community neighbours?......................................................... 109 • Relating new ministries