SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA: Diocese adjusts to new funding policy, supports MDGs
Episcopal News Service. February 2, 2007 [020207-05]
Mary Frances Schjonberg
The Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, meeting January 26-28 in its 88th annual Council, heard Bishop Neff Powell praise the generosity of the diocese and the sacrifices of its diocesan staff that allowed it to carry a surplus into 2007.
"Generosity begets generosity," Powell said in urging a change in the way the diocese pays for its mission and ministry.
"Adjusting to the new funding policy is like learning a new dance step," Powell predicted. "It feels awkward. Sometimes you bump into each other and even step on some toes. The rhythm of the music sounds strange. But, once you learn a new step, it becomes second nature."
The Council came close to gaining the two-thirds majority it needed to pass the change in the canons to enact a diocesan-funding plan. The vote was 132 yes and 84 no while 144 yes votes were needed.
The plan would have moved from voluntary proportionate giving to a more predictable method of funding the diocese. Council passed a companion resolution calling on congregations to pledge between 10 percent to 14 percent, based upon a rolling average of the "plate and pledge" income for the preceding three years as stated in parochial reports.
The full text of Powell's address is available here.
The Council passed a balanced budget of $1.087 million that includes a line item of .7% for Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) efforts and full payment of its assessment of 21 percent to the wider church.
The Council also passed resolutions to:
- call for the 2008 budget to include a specific line item designated "Millennium Development Goals" reflecting a distribution of .7% of the proposed budget, and that every congregation in the diocese and each individual parishioner be encouraged to do the same.
- declare its gratitude for the protection of religious freedom by law and strongly condemn religious intolerance.
- acknowledge the "difficult and painful decisions being made by the leadership of the Diocese of Virginia;" prayerfully support its bishop and "all displaced Episcopalians in their efforts to reorganize and reclaim their churches, and also prayerfully support those members who have left the Episcopal Church as they continue to discern God's call in their faith journeys."
- support actions in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the U.S. designed to reduce and control atmospheric pollution and encourage diocesan members to support increased education on the effect by the population on the environment and the responsibility of Christians toward God's creation.
The texts of all the resolutions are available here.
The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia comprises about 12,600 Episcopalians worshipping in 57 congregations.