Sub-Committee on Finance, Development Meets
Diocesan Press Service. April 15, 1974 [74105]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- A sub-committee on finance and development of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, which is working on a development process to recommend to the Council, recently met in New York City. The committee issued the following report on its meeting:
"We continue to believe that a Development process must have a very high priority and must undergird all activities of the Church. We are anxious to see a strong, affirmative process in action -- one which is shaped by and supported by the whole Church. We believe that the momentum generated by the Diocesan visitations, the Council meetings of the past two years, and the mandate of General Convention must be carried forward.
" In September, 1973, the Executive Council approved this interim statement by the Development Committee on the purpose and meaning of a Development process:
' We understand the purpose and meaning of "development" to be 1) to release and develop human resources; 2) to recommend the development of methods, plans and models to enable parishes, dioceses, Executive Council and General Convention to be more effective agents of mission and service; 3) to propose the development of means by which the Church can gather the financial resources to do its work and to find better ways of using what we have.'
"We believe that an initial proposal for the development process should be made at the September (1974) meeting of the Council.
" In the interim, we must plan as practicable to go back to diocesan leaders to determine their own recommendations as to the priorities of the Church and to help them formulate their goals. This process was begun at a meeting of ten bishops in January of this year.
"We also recognize the leadership role of the Presiding Bishop and the Executive Council in this process. Council members and staff must reflect between June and September on an adequate program in response to the concerns and issues which confront the Church and be prepared to share in preliminary decision-making in the fall.
"We believe the development process must be projected over a ten year period and with an appropriate time schedule. We must know where we want the Church to be at the end of this decade. We can then determine the resources necessary to meet these goals.
"As the Church cooperatively explores priorities, many ways will become evident by which this kind of conceptual reflection and decision-making can be carried out. We recognize that many persons and groups both within and outside the Church must share fully in this.
"We also recognize the necessity of defining precisely the development process -- what we mean by it and what we expect from it.
"We need to consider the development of human and financial resources of the Church as a response to the theological imperative of year-around stewardship.
"Any recommendation about fund-raising must await the determination of the Church's future priorities and an agreement on the whole development process.
"We look forward to working as the Council may direct to carry out our responsibilities.
"Respectfully,
"Sub-Committee on Finance and Development
"The Rev. John B. Coburn, New York
"Mr. Robert Duke, Consultant
"Mr. George T. Guernsey, Missouri
"Mr. Oscar C. Carr, Jr., Staff Liaison
" Mrs. Jean Jackson, Oregon
" Mr. John Goodbody, Communication Officer "
"The Rev. Robert R. Parks, New York
"The Rev. Robert F. Royster, Colorado
"Mr. Walker Taylor, East Carolina