By Lloyd Mackey

THE ‘hub church’ concept may help pave the way to Anglican renewal on Vancouver Island.

That assertion came recently from Gary Nicolosi, congregational development officer for the Anglican Diocese of B.C. That body is currently planning to close up to 10 Island churches, and designate others as ‘hub’ congregations.

The diocese has been getting considerable publicity over the part of the plan that calls for the closing of churches and sale of their buildings. Oft-cited is the tendency toward fragmentation and decline in the Anglican communion in Canada, sparked by divisions over same-sex unions.

But Nicolosi likes to accentuate the potential of the hub concept. The traditional model was based on the idea of having churches in every neighbourhood, so parishioners could walk to worship. The ‘hub church’ model means making use of one church in a larger region, with a proliferation of services and worship styles. The building chosen to be the hub accommodates two, three or more congregations that had previously worshipped in separate locations.

Nicolosi said the eyes of Anglican leadership from across Canada will be focused on the Island for the next two or three years. “We don’t know if it will work with Anglicans in Canada,” he frankly admitted.

Before coming to Victoria, Nicolosi was an Episcopal minister in the United States. The Presbyterian Church (USA) success with hub churches caught his interest.

 “They moved to the regional church model about 25 years ago, and it has been extremely successful.”

Nicolosi admitted there is a natural resistance from people who want to keep the small church. “They feel that is more Canadian and Anglican,” he explained –  adding, however, that Canadian Anglican diocesan structure is similar to the Canadian model of government. Both “give a lot of emphasis to the provinces or regions.”

There will be at least 18 months to work and reflect on the changes, if the diocesan synod approves the concept when it meets March 5 – 7 at Victoria’s Christ Church Cathedral.

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Asked about one particular hub church discussion, involving St. Mary the Virgin and St. Philip’s churches in Oak Bay, Nicolosi was quite bullish on the potential.

St. Philip’s began in the 1950s as a ‘walk to church’ spinoff of St. Mary the Virgin, in a new housing development in the northern part of the upscale municipality. Strong leadership, and an emphasis on family and biblical faith, has helped keep the church full – with some 180 making it their home.

Meanwhile, at St. Mary the Virgin, a historic congregation close to Oak Bay Village, a sanctuary seating over 400 is home to about 60 regular worshippers, many of them elderly.

Nicolosi said having St. Mary as a hub church could well solve St. Philips’ main problem. “The 9 am Sunday service at St. Philip’s is 80 percent full. That means it looks full, and it creates the impression there is no more room for growth.”

As well, he pointed to limited parking and little room on the property for any building expansion.

At St. Mary, a bringing together of the two parish communities could work very well and grow, “with the right leadership and focus on ministry.” Making St. Mary a hub church would bring with it a “new style of leadership, both lay and clergy, and strength coming out of the new church cultures.”

The downside to the move to the larger facility is the danger of reduced spontaneity and spiritual warmth happens in small congregations. Nicolosi said the vibrancy of the St. Philip’s family would soon overcome that latter obstacle.

“Oak Bay was, and should be prime Anglican territory,” he pointed out. “There is an exciting future there.”

Other hub churches would likely be developed in Gordon Head, Royal Oak, Esquimalt and Colwood. Nicolosi emphasized that the success of hub churches will hinge on the way  God moves to bring all these things together.

March 2010