George Orwell’s book, 1984, may have new significance to Toronto United Church leaders. Consultants have predicted that Canada’s largest denomination could be nearly extinct by that year in the non-suburban areas of the city.
Metropolitan Toronto population has increased by 50,000 annually, but United Church membership (206, 379 persons are under pastoral care) is declining by 3,000 a year. The report from Project Planning Associates cost $83,000 and was commissioned eighteen months ago.
Some observers suggest that the United Church predicament is only a part of a larger Protestant urban problem. They point out that between 1961 and 1969, combined United, Anglican, Presbyterian, and Baptist membership in Toronto fell by 30,000. Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic population, swelled by immigrants, jumped 200,000.LESLIE K. TARR
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