Diocesan Response at Record Level
Episcopal News Service. June 23, 1983 [83124]
DES MOINES, Iowa (DPS, June 23) -- Diocesan response to the apportionments assigned by General Convention is at the highest level ever seen by Treasurer Matthew Costigan.
Costigan -- whose service in the finance department goes back more than 30 years -- told the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church that diocesan pledges amounted to $17,056,000 -- which was $407,000 over the amount budgeted from apportionment and 98 percent of the assigned apportionment. Since Church budgeting procedures always call for estimating income from dioceses below the apportionment, this amount becomes a counterbalance to those dioceses that have not met their apportionment and to an anticipated shortfall in investment which Church fiscal officers predicted early in the year.
In reporting to the Council, which was meeting June 16-18 at St. Paul's Church here, Costigan pointed to the Dioceses that have over-pledged -- Virginia by $60,800 and Southern Ohio by $27,400 -- for special commendation.
Costigan's good news was a prelude to the Rev. Donald Hungerford, chairman of the Council's finance/administration committee, announcing later in the meeting that the automatic five percent restriction that is built into budget spending was being lifted. This limit is added at the beginning of each fiscal year as a guarantee against a budget overdraft since the Council is bound by Church law to operate within a balanced budget. The restriction is under constant review and is removed when the budget watchdogs are assured that the income will measure up.
One other piece of good news in Costigan's report was that the May payment paid off the mortgage on the Episcopal Church Center.
Reflecting on the good news, Costigan pointed out that the strong support for the national program -- in light of the nation's uncertain economy to date -- reflected a growing awareness of the need for Church support, an awareness that he believes grew out of the Venture in Mission efforts. "That laid the foundation. People became very aware of the responsibility that our Church has for programs throughout the world and the country, and people have responded."