Andrew Stephens-Rennie

Oct 5, 2023 | christiancourier.ca | Roland De Vries |Andrew Stephens-Rennie |Phil Christman |Katie Munnik

In early spring of this year, I traipsed around to various dry cleaners and tailor shops in Montreal, looking for scraps of fabric. When I entered a shop and made my request, the staff invariably look at me oddly: “You want leftover scraps of fabric?!” In most cases they eventually granted my request and I walked happily away with a bag stuffed with their castoffs – leftover fabric from hemmed pants, shortened skirts, or jackets taken in.

Jul 5, 2023 | christiancourier.ca | Andrew Stephens-Rennie |Bob Bruinsma |Tom Wolthuis |Cathy Smith

The Anglican Church of Canada – my home denomination – released a report in 2020 suggesting “there will be no members, attenders or givers” by 2040. In 1961 our peak membership was made up of 1.35 million souls. A mere 40 years later, these numbers were halved. By 2017, membership dropped to 282,412. By all accounts, the pandemic has accelerated this steady decline, leading the diocese in B.C. where I serve to declare its structures palliative.

Jul 5, 2023 | christiancourier.ca | Andrew Stephens-Rennie

Skip to content The Anglican Church of Canada – my home denomination – released a report in 2020 suggesting “there will be no members, attenders or givers” by 2040. In 1961 our peak membership was made up of 1.35 million souls. A mere 40 years later, these numbers were halved. By 2017, membership dropped to 282,412.