Loading...Dear Clergy, Wardens, and Treasurers,
As you have probably read in the diocesan newsletter, at the August 16 meeting of Trustees and Council, a draft budget was passed for publication to the Diocese and in anticipation of your commitment to support the diocesan budget (download a copy here).
Your commitment form is also transmitted for your return to Controller, Becky Meyer at the Diocesan Office on or before September 30, 2011. While Diocesan Canon 16 provides for an expectation of a commitment of at least 15%, the proposed budget is not based upon 15% congregational pledging because, based upon history, we know that some congregations will not make the expected commitment. We give thanks for the congregations who are contributing 15%, and ask those of you who are not currently at a 15% commitment, to please make a substantial move toward doing so.
Without the 15%, there will have to be additional cuts and there is no place to take them that will not hurt our sisters and brothers in the Diocese. Already two staff positions have been removed and insurance benefits reduced. New programs were eliminated, and funding cut to vital programs such as the School for Ministry, which nurtures and trains those in the diaconal discernment process. Mission funding grants were already pared before the original budget was begun to be formulated. Finally, but not without grave significance to our wider Mission, and to being Episcopalian, the Diocesan commitment to the Episcopal Church has been reduced to 12% when the ask is 19%. The hard fact is that the financial life of the Diocese and its ability to meet commitments to Mission Funding, basic program needs and to the wider church is in your hands. If you are considering a commitment of less than 15%, we request that your explanation will detail your inability to do so and your plan to increase your diocesan giving over a time-certain period.
The diocese is the basic structure of Episcopal Church organization. When we support the diocesan budget, we support one another.
Working to meet and maintain the canonically required 15% assessment means resources for many ministries and programs, including Mission Funding for new and innovative ministry opportunities in every congregation, clergy support in our smaller, but vital and needed congregations, our camp program, Jubilee Ministry Centers around the diocese, support of chaplaincies to higher education, and many others.
Bishop White, Trustees and Council, and the Budget Committee have done all we can to address the expense side of the ledger; it’s time work on the income side. Having written all of this, we recognize with grateful appreciation that many of us, across the diocese do give the Biblical tithe, and many of our congregations are giving 15% to support the diocesan budget. We are truly thankful for that, and simply ask that all work to do so.
God bless us all.
Angela Koshewa and The Rev. Karl Lusk
Budget Chairs
