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It's the only church I know of where the average bloke has a chance to know the bishop personally and the bishop has a good chance to remember one's name!

It has it's charms

To be honest I am not actually a Byzantine-Ruthenian, I am Latin so I don't know if I am counted.

In fact, I probably am not counted by the Latins either. :rolleyes:

Michael,

It's always encouraging when I see you at your post dear friend. When are you going to make the change?

DanL

I am quite dubious about the methodology and accuracy of these head counts.

Diak,

Paranoia can be a good thing if realistic. Why are you paranoid about these stats?

Dan L

Dear Friends,

Euro and USA EC churches are shrinking because of an aging population brought on by the two kids per family-contraception mentality.

Paul

Orthoman,

You are reading the statistics wrong. The only UGCC eparchies that existed in Ukraine were the Archeparchy of Lviv and the Eparchy of Ivano-Frankivsk (formerly Stanislaviv). In 1993 other eparchies were created from the Archeparchy of Lviv, so of course the numbers of Lviv dropped. Likewise the Exarchate of Kyiv-Vyshhorod was the first created for Central/Eastern Ukraine. The Exarchates of Donetsk-Kharkiv and Odessa-Krym were divided from Kyiv-Vyshhorod. Overall I count a drop from 4.3 million in 1995 to 3.6 million in 2004, a loss of 700,00, which may reflect better data gathering and reporting as opposed to actual loss.

Fr. Deacon Lance

I also question the accuracy of the stats. The Archeparchy of Pittsburgh has 10 deacons, 0 are listed, 2 seminarians are listed we have 0. And as regards the Pittsburgh Metropolia, the early numbers were inflated, accurate censuses were not taken until Metropolitan Judson came in.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Dear Friends,

In contrast to EC churches in the USA and Europe, EC churches in Asia where large families are the norm, the church is growing.

That's my take on the stats.

Paul

"Paranoia" has nothing to do with it, and I am not sure why Dan used that word nor do I appreciate the insinuation of harboring a psychosis about a survey.

As Deacon Lance has already beat me to the punch, and for which I thank him for his post, it has everything to do with the accuracy of the data gathering, which seems to be greatly lacking.

[You are reading the statistics wrong. The only UGCC eparchies that existed in Ukraine were the Archeparchy of Lviv and the Eparchy of Ivano-Frankivsk (formerly Stanislaviv). In 1993 other eparchies were created from the Archeparchy of Lviv, so of course the numbers of Lviv dropped. Likewise the Exarchate of Kyiv-Vyshhorod was the first created for Central/Eastern Ukraine. The Exarchates of Donetsk-Kharkiv and Odessa-Krym were divided from Kyiv-Vyshhorod.]

Makes more sense. Thanks for the explaination.

OrthoMan

Diak,

Now calm down. I was not accusing you of a psychosis and please forgive me that I used the word. I was writing in a common sort of way as in "If someone really is trying to kill you it is healthy to be paranoid." Anyway, all I was trying to do is to get you to state your position with more evidence. Deacon Lance has fleshed it out somewhat and so I now understand your point.

Please, forgive my foolish attempt at lightheartedness.

Dan L

Where could we get some accurate stats for the Metropolia?

The best stats are probably those on the official websites as to number of parishes, priests, deacons, etc. Actual numbers of faithful is difficult. I would say the 2004 numbers are close in that regard.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Many thanks. I have often thought that the reasons the Baptists and other groups succeed so well in the South, is because of their missionary activity. They don't have a better product to sell than we have, they just actively sell it. We could and should do more in the missions department.