CHARLESTON – October 17, 2025: This month Bishop Chip Edgar is launching the Thrive Together initiative, a program in which he is inviting every family (whatever size) to contribute $100 to ensure the thriving of every congregation in the diocese. “Most of our families, even single people, could afford to make a $100 donation in a given year,” he said.
When asked what sparked the idea, he mentioned the Builders for Christ campaign, an annual appeal started years ago by Bishop Ed Salmon. That initiative focused initially on raising funds to recruit youth ministers and provide capital for churches engaged in building expansion and renovation.
This new initiative focuses in these first years on providing support to some of our smallest congregations.
“While having a full-time rector doesn’t ensure that a church will thrive,” said Bishop Edgar, “not having a full-time rector certainly makes it that much more difficult. One of my goals for Thriving Together is for the Diocese, as a whole, to come together alongside our smaller congregations, particularly the ones that can’t afford a full-time priest, and help them do that.
“We’re unique as a diocese in the ACNA,” (Anglican Church in North America) he said. “The vast majority of the ACNA is made up of new church plants. I’d say 80% are less than 15 years old.
“Not so with our diocese. When I visit a church that’s been a part of the community for more than 100, 200, or even 300 years, the thought of that church not being an active presence for the gospel in that community grieves me. I detest the thought of a church – whose grounds and buildings have been hallowed by the worship of generations of Christians – disappearing.”
The Bishop does not believe a church has to be big to thrive. “The size of a congregation is not the best determiner of health,” he said. “Authentic worship, the proclamation of the Gospel and an outward focus” are three things he highlights when evaluating church health. “I’ve seen some amazing ministry in our smaller congregations.”
His concern is more about sustainability.
“We have a number of churches that rely on the pastoral and sacramental preaching ministry of a retired priest who lives nearby,” he said. “That situation might be fine for now. But my question to the congregation is, ‘What comes next? Are you confident that when that retired priest is no longer willing or able to serve, another retired priest will live nearby?’ The system works for now, but it’s not sustainable.”
“When people talk about helping smaller struggling congregations, two words are bandied about,” he adds. “One is revitalization, and the other is replanting. Most acknowledge that if a church is in the position where it needs revitalizing or replanting, it likely doesn’t have the resources to do that on its own. It may be a larger, stronger, healthier parish would choose to come alongside another parish to help it. But that’s also one of the things a diocese can do. We’ve got folks who are excellent in terms of revitalizing and revisioning, gifted folks who can help retool what a church currently has.
“We don’t want to interfere if a church says, ‘We’re good,’” he said, “But if they’re at the point where they say, ‘We can’t do this anymore. Not only can we not afford a priest; we can’t pay our electric bill. We’re going to disband.’ That’s not acceptable. And often a congregation doesn’t realize they’re at that point until that day arrives.”
As a Diocese we’re committed to the 10/10/10 plan for giving. We ask lay people to tithe 10% to their local church. We ask churches to give 10% to the Diocese, and the Diocese gives 10% to the province.
“Most of our parishes can and should be giving 10%,” he said. “Not all parishes do, but that’s the starting point.” Rather than asking churches to give toward the Thrive Together initiative, this appeal is to individuals and family units.
“Our average Sunday attendance across the diocese is about 8,000, which translates to an estimated 3,200 family units (Thanks, ChatGPT),” he said. “Now, just as not every parish gives 10% not every family unit will be able to give $100. That’s okay. This ‘ask’ is not intended to induce guilt. It’s also not to interfere with what you give to your local congregation. I will not ever look for the Diocese to take away from the ministry of our local churches, but we are asking for anyone who is able to give $100 to this effort, to do so.
“And if you’re in a position where you could comfortably give more, I’m asking you to consider that.
“As St. Paul says, ‘if one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.’ (1 Corinthians 12:26.) My desire with this effort is to have our entire Diocese rejoice as all of our churches Thrive Together.”
By Joy Hunter, Director of Communications