Apples and oranges! The Methodist experience is NOT similar to our recent Catholic closings and consolidation of parishes. Typically, in the Catholic version, the reason for closure is the extreme shortage of Catholic clergy to lead individual parishes. Note that the "tipping point" for Methodists' viability is 175 people, far fewer than most Catholic parishes that are closing or being consolidated under some "grouping" arrangement. Death of a parish does not automatically breathe new life into the remainderment. Often suffering and resentment linger for many years and even generations later.