Modest Budget Reduction Mandated by Executive Council
Episcopal News Service. February 17, 2004 [021704-2]
Jerry Hames, Editor of Episcopal Life, Jan Nunley
Predictions of dire fiscal consequences as a result of protests against the consecration of an openly gay priest as Bishop of New Hampshire have so far failed to materialize, according to the Episcopal Church's treasurer, Kurt Barnes.
Barnes told the Executive Council at its meeting in Tampa, Florida February 9-12 that total income from diocesan apportionment is expected to be down by 6.8 percent, a decline which he characterized as "not material." Diocesan commitments make up 61 percent of the church's anticipated revenue for 2004.
Critics of General Convention's decision to consent to the consecration of Gene Robinson had anticipated a drastic falloff in contributions from parishioners and dioceses to the national mission of the church. Organizations such as the American Anglican Council and Communion Parishes encouraged dioceses and congregations to pass resolutions mandating "redirection" of funds from national mission to alternative organizations and programs.
Responding to the expected reduction in financial support, the council revised the budget for 2004 to reflect a 4 percent overall reduction in expenses. The formula for funds taken from endowments was raised from 5 to 5.5 percent. Total revenue under the revised budget is now $40.8 million and total expenditure is $40.3 million. These figures exclude the Episcopal Migration Ministries program, because its revenue is dependent upon the number of refugees that the federal government admits.
Some increased giving
Barnes told the council that of 84 dioceses that have so far made commitments, 40 pledged or exceeded the 21 percent of diocesan budget sought according to the formula established by General Convention. Another 42 dioceses, some of which historically have given less than 21 percent, indicated they would give between 3 and 20 percent.
To date, Barnes said, only the dioceses of Dallas and Pittsburgh have responded that they would give no support at all to the national mission of the church. Dallas previously gave at the 17 percent level; Pittsburgh, at 11 percent.
About 75 individuals have made pledges totaling $70,000 for the work of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, according to Barnes. In addition, he reported that the dioceses of Connecticut and Newark exceeded the 21 percent support level.
Other charitable and nonprofit organizations have suffered even more income restrictions this year due to a poorly performing economy, the treasurer said, citing declines of up to 20 percent. "Layoffs affect churches too," he pointed out.
Patience counseled
"The mission of the church established will move forward," Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold told a press conference after the budget presentation. "The level by which we would like to do it has been slightly curtailed."
Under the budget approved by Executive Council, all overseas and domestic and appropriations are reduced by 5 percent annually. No reductions are made in financial covenants with overseas churches, to the work of the Anglican Consultative Council, or to ecumenical appropriations.
A statement by council members issued at the end of the meeting asked for patience. "We do not underestimate the difficulties that dioceses and congregations continue to face in light of the decisions of General Convention. We urge all parties to continue their conversations in the spirit of what our presiding bishop calls 'passionate patience.'"
"We must resist the tendency to push for speedy or easy resolution of our differences, but rather continue the hard work of listening to one another and searching for ways to accompany one another," it stated.
New Asian American missioner
Bishop Arthur Williams, the interim director of ethnic ministries, announced the appointment of the Rev. Winfred B. (Fred) Vergara as missioner for Asian American ministries. The founding vicar of an Asian American congregation in San Jose, California, and canon missioner for Asian American cultures in the Diocese of El Camino Real, he will begin work on May 1.
A native of the Philippines, Vergara served as a priest in the Philippine Independent Church for 15 years before he was received into the Episcopal Church in 1993. He organized the first Filipino American mission in Las Vegas.
Williams, who two months ago named the Rev. Angela Ifill as the new missioner for black ministries, said he expects a Native American missioner to be appointed by June. The three new staffers join the Rev. Daniel Caballero, Hispanic missioner, to complete the team.
Renovation decision delayed
The Administration and Finance committee defeated a motion for a complete renovation of the Episcopal Church Center in New York and instead decided to take only the next step in a proposed plan estimated to cost $28 million.
They approved replacement of the building's three elevators at a cost of $550,000 and ordered that architectural and engineering documents, with cost estimates, be completed. The committee will reconsider the renovation proposal in June.
Committee member Bonnie Anderson, vice-president of the House of Deputies, said answers were needed to many questions, including financing, before a decision could be made to proceed.
In other business, council authorized a payment of $200,000 to General Theological Seminary in New York. It had been in discussion with the seminary about the possible relocation of the church center to the seminary grounds and the redevelopment of Chelsea Square. That plan did not proceed.
It also approved a grant of $250,000 to the Episcopal Church in the Philippines to assist in building an endowment fund. The decision to support the fund was taken by General Convention in 1988 when the Philippine Church gained its autonomy from the Episcopal Church, and was reaffirmed by Executive Council last year.
The council reviewed plans for developing and expanding young adult and youth ministries. It established an advisory committee, half of which will be youth or young adults, to advise the council on how to spend funds for new initiatives, authorized meeting expenditures of $24,000, and asked for a report for its June meeting in Burlington, Vermont.