No surprise. The numbers are gloomy.
Despite Statistics Canada’s recent report on religion, there are pathways forward for flourishing church possibilities. Clearly though, for Christian congregational leaders it will require a new emphasis and fresh approach to discipleship.
FIRST, THE NOT-SO-GOOD NEWS
Figures from the 2021 Census related to religious affiliation released in late October, show that just over 53% of Canadians identify as Christian. This is down from 67% in 2011 and 77% in 2001. Anglicans have 3.1% of that 2021 share.
Religious affiliation may be defined as having a connection with a particular faith tradition, but not necessarily be considered a ‘member’, or actively practice spiritual disciplines or regularly attend worship.
Every denomination’s numbers were down, with the exception of Orthodox Christians, which may be due to the increasing number of Orthodox immigrants moving to the country.
More than one-third of our nation’s population identify as having no religious affiliation. This proportion more than doubled since 2001. Approximately 12.6 million people are what some researchers call religious ‘nones.’ Some of this may be due to immigration, and also that a growing number of children (age 10 and under) born in Canada have no faith background.
Stats Can’s release, ‘The Daily’ says, “The main reason for the growth in the population with no religious affiliation is likely related to the fact that many people who reported a religious affiliation in the past now report no religious affiliation.”
It is interesting to note that 2.8 million Canadians say they are Christian without claiming a particular denomination. This number, 7.6%, more than doubled from 2011. This could be an indication that a growing number of people still value the faith, but are reluctant to identify with a specific tradition.
Statistics for the Maritimes reflect national trends. In Nova Scotia, with a population of 969,383 in 2021, slightly more than 556,000 people identify as Christian. Those who specifically say they are affiliated with the Anglican Church are just over 73,000. That’s about 13% of the province’s residents. Religious nones in the population are almost 38% and growing. It was 12% in 2001.
Prince Edward Island with 154,331 population in 2021, report just over 5,000 connected with Anglicanism (3.2%). There are almost 102,000 who affiliate as Christians. Some 28% of Islanders identify as having no religious affiliation. Twenty years earlier, only 7% claimed to have none.
For some comparison, our Diocesan Profile prepared in February 2020, reports 21,000 people on our congregational lists for both provinces. These would be our active parishioners who, to some extent, worship, give and serve in various forms of ministry.
NEXT, THE HOPEFUL, GOOD NEWS
Leaps in the numbers of religious nones in our communities may mean there is potential for us to offer opportunities to explore Christian spirituality in fresh, relevant ways. Some of those who claim to have no faith tradition may be curious and open to learning and experiencing the holy, especially if they have little or no church background. Our Anglican beliefs and practices may be intriguing and uniquely attractive to some in this demographic.
Our leaders, considering our context and strengths, can host safe spaces for people to dip their toe into spiritual practices, be involved in impactful social justice projects and engage in pertinent educational programs. Keys for us in doing this will be deep humility on our part, highly respectful relationships, and an atmosphere of authenticity and transparency. More people are generally suspicious of institutions these days, especially churches.
Related to the rising number of children born in Canada with no faith affiliation, there can be real possibilities in offering focused ministry with young families. Programs like vacation Bible camps, Messy Church, youth activities, etc., could be of value to those who are spiritually curious.
The increasing number of people who say they are Christian and are reluctant to identify with a particular denomination, may indicate that folks are seeking more casual environments for faith engagement. Perhaps some are unfamiliar or lack understanding with our rich Anglican traditions and ancient rituals.
Maybe the place to start is offering environments whereby seekers can safely ask questions and explore the basics of authentic Christianity. This could be things like sessions on how to pray, explore who Jesus is, Bible basics, etc. Additionally our tradition’s approach to social issues like Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ2+ inclusion, Indigenous healing and reconciliation, strong marriages, etc. can also pique peoples’ interests.
It may also be helpful to host these gatherings in non-church spaces, like a coffee shop, someone’s living room, on Zoom or a public park. For some, crossing the threshold of a church door may be just too big of a challenge in the beginning stages of Christian faith exploring.
Discipleship is often defined as being a student or learner in the Christian faith. A more accurate translation of this term is apprenticeship. All of us are growing and maturing into the full stature of Christ in our understanding of God, and also in our active serving of the world God loves. How can we open up opportunities for people to discover what it means to be a follower of Christ, a disciple, in the very earliest of stages?
NOW WHAT?
A new book published in 2021 is chock full of promising insights for all Christian denominations in our country. “Signs of Life: Catholic, Mainline, and Conservative Protestant Congregations in Canada,” names many principles and affirmations for flourishing faith communities today. Written by social scientists, Bill McAlpine, Joel Thiessen, Keith Walker and Arch Chee Keen Wong, the authors outline key practices and recommendations related to leadership development, organizational structures and processes, engaging laity, radical hospitality, connecting with our neighbours, partnerships and extending invitations. 
The text addresses innovation, areas of change and the realities that our congregations will never return to ‘normal.’ Signs of Life, rather than asking what is wrong with our churches, takes an appreciative inquiry approach. The researchers, based out of the Flourishing Congregations Institute in Calgary, ask questions like, “What is going right and working well?… How… can we build upon our strengths? How can we do our part to make space for more good things to happen? How can we identify the ‘thriving virus’ (even if in just small things) and see those good things grow and replicate in ways that answer our prayers?”
If you and members of your congregation (or region) are interested in participating in a BOOK STUDY with this Canadian text, contact me ( [email protected] ). Each chapter has discussion questions and self-assessment exercises.
The authors write, “Like you, we have more questions than answers at this point in time. However, being attentive to the questions and committing to pursuing some answers might be an important trait that distinguishes churches who flourish when COVID-19 is behind us.”
Rev. Canon Lisa G. Vaughn is the Diocesan Parish Vitality Coordinator. For additional articles, inspiration and insights on congregational vitality and mission see the Facebook page “Parish Vitality Coordinator – Diocese of NS & PEI”, and the Anglican Net News, “Six-Minute Study”.
