Search the Acts of Convention

Resolution Number: 2003-D086
Title: Adopt the Budget for the Episcopal Church
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 74th General Convention adopt the Budget for The Episcopal Church for the next triennium as set forth below:

1.0 The Budget for The Episcopal Church for the period January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2006, which shall be a unified budget including Canonical, Corporate, and Program (mission) portions, is adopted at a total of $146,395,000.00.
1.1The Canonical portion, providing for the contingent expenses of the General Convention, the stipend of the Presiding Bishop and the expenses of that office, the expenses of the President of the House of Deputies, and Church Pension Fund assessments is adopted at a total of $28,115,000.00 as follows:

For the year 2004 $ 8,474,000.00

For the year 2005 $ 8,618,000.00

For the year 2006 $ 11,023,000.00

1.2The Corporate portion, providing for the requirements for the administrative support of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society offices, is adopted at a total of $25,567,000.00 as follows:

For the year 2004 $ 8,225,000.00

For the year 2005 $ 8,577,000.00

For the year 2006 $ 8,765,000.00

1.3The Program (mission) portion, providing for support for the mission and ministry (restricted and unrestricted) of the Church, is adopted at a total of $92,713,000.00 as follows:

For the year 2004 $ 30,510,000.00

For the year 2005 $ 30,821,000.00

For the year 2006 $ 31,382,000.00

2.0The funding policy for the period January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2006 is adopted, based on a single Asking (apportioned share) of the dioceses. After a $100,000 exemption from total income, a single Asking shall be applied at a flat rate of 21% of the balance of income to the diocese, reported in the diocesan financial statements for the year two years prior to the year to which the pledge is applied [e.g.: 2004 Askings (apportioned share) are to be based on 2002 actual income figures]. "Income" includes (1) all congregational giving to the diocese, (2) all unrestricted investment and endowment income to the diocese, (3) restricted investment and endowment income to the diocese which covers costs in the operating budget, and (4) other earnings from investments or enterprises. It is intended that income shall include revenues that fund normal operating and program expenses of the dioceses. It is not intended to include pass-through income that is used for expenses for programming that are simply administered by the dioceses, or that would not be otherwise funded by contributions from parishes or out of investment income.
2.1We rejoice with dioceses that have moved toward, and those that give at and above, the 21% Asking. Such giving creates a strong financial basis for vital mission and witness of The Episcopal Church. We encourage all our dioceses to adopt the 21% Asking; then we could allocate an additional 4.7 million dollars each year toward fulfilling the mission priorities which we have embraced in this 74th General Convention.
2.2For the budgetary period income from diocesan commitments, totaling $90,487,000.00 is anticipated as follows:

For the year 2004 $ 29,473,000.00

For the year 2005 $ 30,062,000.00

For the year 2006 $ 30,952,000.00

2.3For the budgetary period 2004–2006, payment by the dioceses of the Askings shall be made in twelve equal monthly payments.
2.4All additional income, other than from the Askings of the dioceses, totaling $55,908,000.00, is projected as follows:

For the year 2004 $ 18,554,000.00

For the year 2005 $ 18,382,000.00

For the year 2006 $ 18,972,000.00

2.5A General Ordination fee is hereby authorized, which fees shall be added to the funding from dioceses and applied to the expenses of examination as appropriated in the budget. A candidate for Holy Orders eligible for examination and so certified by the diocesan bishop shall not be disqualified for examination because the fee has not been paid.
2.6General Convention registration and exhibitors fees are hereby authorized, which fees shall be added to the funding from dioceses and applied to the expenses of the 2006 General Convention, and for no other purpose.
3.0In the exercise of their respective authorities, the Executive Council of the General Convention and the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance shall be subject to the following policies:
3.1Each year, the Executive Council, with the advice of the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance, shall adjust the budget to the assured income of the Executive Council so as to carry out the Budget for The Episcopal Church for that year on a balanced budget basis.
3.2The fiscal year shall begin January 1.
3.3If in any year the total anticipated income for budget support is less than the amount required to support the budget approved by the General Convention, the Canonical portion of the Budget for The Episcopal Church shall have funding priority over any other budget areas.
3.4Net surpluses that are realized in any year of the triennium are to be allocated in the subsequent years of the triennium in the following rank order, as needed, to:
  • Ministries With Young People
  • Ethnic Congregational Development
  • Congregational Development
3.5Undesignated bequests and legacies received during the budgetary period shall be set aside in the general endowment fund of which only the income shall be used for the general purposes of the Society.
3.6Designated bequests and legacies received during the budgetary period shall be set aside in specific funds of which only the income shall be used for the purposes so designated.
3.7Each Committee, Commission, Agency and Board (CCAB) proposing to the General Convention any resolution with funding implications shall present to the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance a detailed budget in support of its plan(s), including cost estimates from contractors and suppliers for all goods and services, by no later than six months before the opening day of the General Convention
3.8Subsequent editions of the Report and Proposal of the Presiding Bishop and Executive Council to the General Convention contain the following information for each year of the preceding triennium:
  • A description of the actual income and expenditures of the DFMS, relating the expenditures to the Church's priorities with accompanying narrative.
  • Endowment balance and total investment return, with accompanying narrative.
  • Posting of this report on the DFMS website when it is released to the Bishops and Deputies.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, 2003 (New York: General Convention, 2004), pp. 269-272.

Legislative History

Author: Ms. Bonnie Anderson (Michigan)
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance

House of Deputies

The Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance presented its Report #1 on Resolution D086 (Budget for the Episcopal Church 2004–2006) and moved adoption.

Original Text of Resolution:

(D086)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 74th General Convention adopt the Budget for The Episcopal Church for the next triennium as set forth below:

1.0 The Budget for the Episcopal Church for the period January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2006, which shall be a unified budget including Canonical, Corporate, and Program (mission) portions, is adopted at a total of $146,395,000.00.
1.1The Canonical portion, providing for the contingent expenses of the General Convention, the stipend of the Presiding Bishop and the expenses of that office, the expenses of the President of the House of Deputies, and Church Pension Fund assessments is adopted at a total of $28,115,000.00 as follows:

For the year 2004 $ 8,474,000.00

For the year 2005 $ 8,618,000.00

For the year 2006 $ 11,023,000.00

1.2The Corporate portion, providing for the requirements for the administrative support of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society offices, is adopted at a total of $25,567,000.00 as follows:

For the year 2004 $ 8,225,000.00

For the year 2005 $ 8,577,000.00

For the year 2006 $ 8,765,000.00

1.3The Program (mission) portion, providing for support for the mission and ministry (restricted and unrestricted) of the Church, is adopted at a total of $92,713,000.00 as follows:

For the year 2004 $ 30,510,000.00

For the year 2005 $ 30,821,000.00

For the year 2006 $ 31,382,000.00

2.0The funding policy for the period January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2006 is adopted, based on a single Asking (apportioned share) of the dioceses. After a $100,000 exemption from total income, a single Asking shall be applied at a flat rate of 21% of the balance of income to the diocese, reported in the diocesan financial statements for the year two years prior to the year to which the pledge is applied [e.g.: 2004 Askings (apportioned share) are to be based on 2002 actual income figures]. "Income" includes (1) all congregational giving to the diocese, (2) all unrestricted investment and endowment income to the diocese, (3) restricted investment and endowment income to the diocese which covers costs in the operating budget, and (4) other earnings from investments or enterprises. It is intended that income shall include revenues that fund normal operating and program expenses of the dioceses. It is not intended to include pass-through income that is used for expenses for programming that are simply administered by the dioceses, or that would not be otherwise funded by contributions from parishes or out of investment income.
2.1We rejoice with dioceses that have moved toward, and those that give at and above, the 21% Asking. Such giving creates a strong financial basis for vital mission and witness of The Episcopal Church. We encourage all our dioceses to adopt the 21% Asking; then we could allocate an additional 4.7 million dollars each year toward fulfilling the mission priorities which we have embraced in this 74th General Convention.
2.2For the budgetary period income from diocesan commitments, totaling $90,487,000.00 is anticipated as follows:

For the year 2004 $ 29,473,000.00

For the year 2005 $ 30,062,000.00

For the year 2006 $ 30,952,000.00

2.3For the budgetary period 2004–2006, payment by the dioceses of the Askings shall be made in twelve equal monthly payments.
2.4All additional income, other than from the Askings of the dioceses, totaling $55,908,000.00, is projected as follows:

For the year 2004 $ 18,554,000.00

For the year 2005 $ 18,382,000.00

For the year 2006 $ 18,972,000.00

2.5A General Ordination fee is hereby authorized, which fees shall be added to the funding from dioceses and applied to the expenses of examination as appropriated in the budget. A candidate for Holy Orders eligible for examination and so certified by the diocesan bishop shall not be disqualified for examination because the fee has not been paid.
2.6General Convention registration and exhibitors fees are hereby authorized, which fees shall be added to the funding from dioceses and applied to the expenses of the 2006 General Convention, and for no other purpose.
3.0In the exercise of their respective authorities, the Executive Council of the General Convention and the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance shall be subject to the following policies:
3.1Each year, the Executive Council, with the advice of the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance, shall adjust the budget to the assured income of the Executive Council so as to carry out the Budget for The Episcopal Church for that year on a balanced budget basis.
3.2The fiscal year shall begin January 1.
3.3If in any year the total anticipated income for budget support is less than the amount required to support the budget approved by the General Convention, the Canonical portion of the Budget for The Episcopal Church shall have funding priority over any other budget areas.
3.4Net surpluses that are realized in any year of the triennium are to be allocated in the subsequent years of the triennium in the following rank order, as needed, to:
  • Ministries With Young People
  • Ethnic Congregational Development
  • Congregational Development
3.5Undesignated bequests and legacies received during the budgetary period shall be set aside in the general endowment fund of which only the income shall be used for the general purposes of the Society.
3.6Designated bequests and legacies received during the budgetary period shall be set aside in specific funds of which only the income shall be used for the purposes so designated.
3.7Each Committee, Commission, Agency and Board (CCAB) proposing to the General Convention any resolution with funding implications shall present to the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance a detailed budget in support of its plan(s), including cost estimates from contractors and suppliers for all goods and services, by no later than six months before the opening day of the General Convention
3.8Subsequent editions of the Report and Proposal of the Presiding Bishop and Executive Council to the General Convention contain the following information for each year of the preceding triennium:
  • A description of the actual income and expenditures of the DFMS, relating the expenditures to the Church's priorities with accompanying narrative.
  • Endowment balance and total investment return, with accompanying narrative.
  • Posting of this report on the DFMS website when it is released to the Bishops and Deputies.

The House voted on the Revenue Section of the 2004–2006 Budget.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted

The House voted on the Expense Section of the 2004–2006 Budget.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #210)

House of Bishops

The Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance was greeted and addressed the House. The Chair, Deputy Anderson from Michigan, stated that the Budget has been adopted by the House of Deputies.

The Bishop of Fond du Lac moved concurrence with the House of Deputies on Resolution D086 (Budget for the Episcopal Church 2004–2006).

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #209)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, August 7.

Abstract:   The 74th General Convention adopts the budget for the Episcopal Church for the next triennium.
Notes:  

Resolution D086 includes budget appropriations for Resolutions A001 (Archives of the Episcopal Church), A002 (Board for Church Deployment), A003 (General Board of Examining Chaplains), A004 (General Ordination Exam Fee), A153 (House of Bishops Committee on Pastoral Development), A157 (Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance), and A158 (Title IV Revision), which were discharged and adopted through the budget.