Coalition 14 Explores Strategies
Episcopal News Service. March 6, 1980 [80075]
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Concentration on four areas of strategy and allocation of a $1.5 million budget occupied representatives at the annual meeting of the board of Coalition 14 at Cook Christian Training School here Feb. 26-28.
The 14 member-dioceses of the Coalition and the newest member, the Area Mission of the Episcopal Church in Navajoland, spent the three days together comparing strategies for ministry development, evangelism and renewal, stewardship and social concerns, and ministry to Native Americans. Four workshops conducted in these areas provided sharing and support for new efforts by the members of Coalition 14.
Each member group of C-14 submitted budgets and met with a budget review committee prior to the beginning of the annual meeting. With increased stewardship and several voluntary reductions in grant requests, the $1.5 million provided by the national General Church Program for the support of C-14 members was equitably distributed. Paul Chalk of Nevada commented, "We're increasingly moving away from investigating budgets to vesting in strategy."
Several resolutions dealing with strategy areas were introduced, discussed and passed. Regarding ministry to Native Americans, the annual meeting noted that there are many dioceses with sizeable Indian populations which are not now members of C-14, and urged the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church to "...review the financial commitment of the Church to American Indian/Native Alaskan people" in the areas of support for the budget of the National Committee on Indian Work, the need for funding educational institutions where Native American Episcopalians are studying for the ministry of the Church, and identification of dioceses outside C-14 which have Indian populations and are attempting ministry with them, but have the need to secure financial resources for these new works.
"Good progress is being made, " said the Rev. Charles Wilson, reporting on the two-year diocesan development pilot project which was begun last year by C-14 and continued this year with the assistance of a grant from the United Thank Offering. The dioceses of Western Kansas, Wyoming, and South Dakota have worked with Wilson in analyzing program plans and budget formats. The three different dioceses chose different emphases: Wyoming developed a diocesan framework and structure to support the leadership initiatives of its bishop, the Rt. Rev. Bob G. Jones; South Dakota emphasized ministry development; and Western Kansas developed a comprehensive program plan including its Venture in Mission goals and strategies as part of the whole.
The successful Venture campaign in Western Kansas included support for a Coalition 14 Communication Project, and at this meeting Bishop Richard Trelease of Rio Grande, head of the Communications Committee, announced that the committee will begin work on implementing the project as soon as possible. The project will work towards more effective communications within and from the member jurisdictions.
The 1981 meeting of Coalition 14 will be Feb. 24-26, in Tempe.
The Rev. Canon Victor Richer of Helena, Mont., was elected chairman of the executive committee of Coalition 14, replacing the Rt. Rev. Wesley Frensdorff of Nevada. The Rev. Ben Helmer of Goodland, Kansas., was elected secretary. Also elected to the executive committee were the Rev. Robert Herlocker of the Diocese of Idaho, the Rev. John Bauer from Eastern Oregon, the Rt. Rev. Richard Trelease of Rio Grande, and Mr. Robert Gordon of Utah. They will join incumbents the Rev. Paul Davis of South Dakota and the Rt. Rev. Jackson Gilliam of Montana.
Coalition 14 is composed of 15 -- originally 14 -- U.S. jurisdictions of the Church, located mostly in the western part of the country, which are joined in a voluntary partnership to share resources and skills for their common goals within their life and work. They disclose all revenues openly and allocate funds mutually.
In addition to the Navajoland Area Mission, the dioceses which belong to C-14 are: Alaska, Arizona, Eastern Oregon, Eau Claire, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, San Joaquin, South Dakota, Utah, Western Kansas, Wyoming and Rio Grande.