By Rachel Stern The News Bulletin

Nanaimo Anglican churches are a bright spot on the Island, having escaped the recession unlike others that could face restructuring.

The Anglican Diocese of B.C. has dwindling revenues and attendance and is planning several restructuring initiatives to make up for a deficit of nearly $1 million.

Archdeacon Brian Evans, responsible for overseeing the Malaspina region – which includes Nanaimo, Cedar, Lantzville, Nanoose Bay, Parksville, Port Alberni and Ucleulet – said the economic crisis isn’t affecting mid-Island parishes as much as other parts of the Island.

“Our area is one of the fortunate areas. Our churches seem to be doing well. It certainly hasn’t affected us at the parish of St. Paul’s in Nanaimo,” he said, adding that Nanaimo has shown a slight increase in both attendance and revenue.

But Evans said there are others on the Island that could face restructuring. The Anglican Diocese has looked at restructuring for several years due to dwindling numbers.

Other churches are also being affected in different ways.

Pastor Rob Daley of the First Baptist Church said attendance is strong, but a number of people in the congregation have lost their jobs. Despite the hard times, people are still being generous and are supporting a church expansion project that began in 2005.

Brechin United Church has had a slight decrease in attendance, but Minister John van Omme said that drop has been steady over the past five years.

Although new members are joining the congregation, it isn’t enough to replace those that are lost. He said churches can’t borrow money and have to rely on any past surpluses to get them through tough times.

Economic upsets often bring about innovative changes and people or organizations find different and creative ways of operating, said van Omme.

reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com