It’s a sign of God’s hand at work.
A Florida-based Episcopal congregation, Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota, is bucking the trend of decline seen across much of the denomination by recently surpassing 3,000 members. On Feb. 16, the church celebrated a significant milestone by baptizing two infants, Casey Jane Clegg and Ruby Mae Spears, marking the 3,000th and 3,001st members of the congregation. The occasion was commemorated with gold balloons representing the membership numbers, and the baptisms were met with a standing ovation.
Father Charleston Wilson, rector of Church of the Redeemer, expressed gratitude for the growth, attributing it to God’s work. “The hand of God is clearly at work at Redeemer,” he said, noting that the church is focused on growing its congregation by making new Christians and strengthening the faith of existing members. The church saw 150 new members join last year, with 47 more already joining this year.
Wilson believes the church’s growth stems from its focus on Jesus, stating, “Jesus lies at the center of all we do at Redeemer, and that may be our ‘secret sauce.’” He emphasized that those connected to the parish feel a deep and personal connection to the compassionate Christ, which draws people to the congregation.
In contrast to the growth at Redeemer, The Episcopal Church overall has experienced a significant decline in membership. The denomination’s membership fell below 2 million in 2010, and as of 2023, it had around 1.547 million members. Despite the ongoing decline, there has been an increase in worship attendance for two consecutive years, with around 411,000 average attendees in 2023.
The Episcopal Church’s new presiding bishop, Rev. Sean Rowe, who succeeded Rev. Michael Curry, emphasized the importance of unity during his installation. He urged churches and dioceses to work together, recognizing their mutual interdependence and the need to support one another. “We are one church in Jesus Christ,” Rowe said, affirming that the church’s mission remains to proclaim Jesus’ resurrection and life as a unified body.