Albert Einstein died in 1955. That’s seventy years ago. But before he died, he made a bold statement: “We must accept that the day will come when technology will surpass human interaction.”
Most of us today might not have any knowledge of his prediction, but the expectation has become an overwhelming truism. This progression has allowed individuals to technically expand their horizons globally, but at the same time, it may divert attention from a lifetime of individual customary practices.
I’m not suggesting that this advanced branch of science has somewhat influenced a large number of our citizens to shift interest from regular church service attendance. Neither am I using the same hypothesis to claim that banning prayers from the school curriculum system has a similar negative effect on Christian worship amongst the younger generation.
Then, of course, modifications had to be considered in the church community when COVID-19 hit our environment. That’s when online church services were introduced. Some parishioners became so comfortable using that technique that it prevailed even when churches returned to regular in-house worship.
But the reality, for whatever reason, is obvious: today’s church attendance and support are largely dependent upon a more senior group of parishioners. In the meantime, many prominent and lifelong churches here in Newfoundland have been closed, forced to sell, or combine with others.
Here at St. John the Evangelist, Topsail, and at neighbouring churches, we have so far survived that fate—not solely from the collection plate, but through fundraising efforts such as takeout dinners, flea markets, fairs, and renting our facilities when available.
The situation is not just relevant to our local and community places of worship. The Anglican Journal magazine has been reporting publicly for some time of General Synod’s worries about the future of the churches. The latest Journal news is that the situation has reached emergency levels where they need to make cuts in the size of the church’s governing bodies.
To quote Archbishop Anne Germond, from September’s edition of the Anglican Journal: “We need to act now… transforming these structures is necessary to empower and support parishes in proclaiming and living the gospel.”
