← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · wild_bill
Thread ID: 12173 | Posts: 1 | Started: 2004-02-06
2004-02-06 01:13 | User Profile
Anglicans to cancel Sunday church?
Hoping to boost attendance, the Anglican Church of England is considering moving weekly services from Sunday to another day of the week.
According to a report in the West Australian, church leaders say the move would be a response to a modern culture that is too busy on weekends to attend services. Those pushing for the move claim churches must adapt to suit the schedules of parishioners.
The paper said a report from the Church found Sunday is no longer a church day but rather a family day, do-it-yourself day or sports day. Church had dropped off the list of priorities as modern families found themselves more pressed for time.
The Catholic archbishop of Perth, Australia, Barry Hickey, told the paper Sunday was the day of the Lord and that would never change. While he admitted his denomination also is suffering from a decline in attendance, he said a better answer is becoming more youth-friendly.
Bishop David Murray of the Anglican Diocese of Perth told the West Australian churches must adapt to the times if they expected to survive.
"We have to put ourselves out there. We have to sell ourselves more," Murray said. "Things will be completely different in 25 years, and I can imagine a future where there is no such thing as a traditional Sunday church service."
The Church of England General Synod in London is to consider the anti-Sunday proposal this month.