Median Average Sunday Attendance in the denomination dropped from 55 persons in 2017 to 21 persons in 2021. Long-term, 88% of Episcopal parishes saw their attendance decline 10% or greater in the past five years, and 90% of congregations report attendance of less than 100 persons.

The 2021 statistics are the first attendance numbers affected by COVID-19 restrictions (in 2020, the church only reported attendance data for the pre-pandemic period January through early March).

Saint Francis Ministries hired Robert Smith, known as Father Bobby, as president and CEO in 2014. He became a canonical resident in the Diocese of Chicago in 2012. (Saint Francis Ministries)

Rebecca Wilson, partner at a public relations firm that handles inquiries for the Diocese of Chicago, said the church's investigation "did not identify any wrongdoing on the Rev. Smith's part beyond errors in judgment."

Bassoto's Northern Brazilian diocese includes regions that are home to much of Brazil's Indigenous population, and have been heavily deforested in recent years. She has made advocacy for creation care a major feature of her ministry. In March, Archbishop of Canterbury awarded her the St.

This has been welcomed by some who hold to the historic, biblical teaching on sex and marriage, who acknowledge that there is an irreconcilable division in terms of understanding of the Christian faith, but would like an orderly, negotiated separation to occur within the church. This would have to involve robust protections for biblically faithful ministers, together with their congregations and buildings, should the Church of England be led into accepting heterodox faith and practice.