Record Budget Approved
Diocesan Press Service. March 11, 1963 [VIII-18]
NEW YORK, --- A record $11,265,337 total operating budget for 1963 was adopted by the National Council at its annual meeting in Greenwich, Conn., in February.
The current budget is $897,320 above last year's budget of $10,368,017. It represents an increase of more than 10 per cent in appropriations for the work of the national Church.
Harrison Garrett, Baltimore layman and chairman of the Finance Department, noted that dioceses and missionary districts have pledged approximately $800, 000 more to the current budget than was received from them in 1962 -- an increase of 8 ½ per cent.
Though the 1963 budget does not meet with the figure proposed by the 1961 General Convention, Mr. Garrett stated that it does not represent a cut budget.
The 1963 budget is based on income of $9,998,003 from dioceses and missionary districts for quota; $404,334 from the United Thank Offering; $700,000 from trust funds; $18,000 from outside trusts; $20,000 miscellaneous; and $125,000 appropriated from the 1962 budget income.
Appropriations for the work of the Church in 1963 are: Overseas Department, $4,450,015; Home Department, $2,907, 193; Christian Education Department, $573,197; Christian Social Relations Department, $282,729;
Promotion Department, $498,920; Finance Department, $227,094; General Division of Women's Work, $206, 091; General Division of Laymen's Work, $63, 500; General Division of Research and Field Study, $98,677; The Episcopalian, Episcopal Church magazine, $192,000; World Relief and Interchurch Aid, $343, 220; Revolving Loan Fund and Grants, $500, 000; American Church Building Fund, $60,000; American Churches in Europe, $10, 755; Interdenominational Agencies, $119,400; and other items, $65, 000.
The Rev. Canon Almon R. Pepper, director of the Department of Christian Social Relations, reported that Episcopalians dispersed $662,000 for World Relief and Interchurch Aid.
Of this total, $400, 000 came from the National Council budget and $262, 000 from the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief.
In other actions, National Council voiced its support of the establishment of a youth conservation corps in the United States to help train, educate and employ "the mounting numbers of idle youth."
In a resolution, National Council cited as "a serious human welfare problem" the rise in high school drop-outs, increasing juvenile delinquency, and the inability of many high school graduates to find employment.
Another resolution approved by the 32-member body supported the idea of a national service corps, staffed by selected citizens of all ages who would serve voluntarily in such "critical areas" as mental health, migrant labor, the redevelopment of depressed areas and aid to the American Indian.
Copies of both resolutions have been sent to the majority and minority leaders of the U. S. Senate and the House of Representatives.
The National Council also voiced its "strong opposition" to "the Administration's proposed revision of the existing income tax law, which would limit a donor's dedication for contributions made to religious, charitable, and educational institutions."
The resolution stated the Council's firm belief that "such limitations would seriously decrease the income of these institutions, thereby weakening their work in their respective fields."
A copy of the resolution has been sent to President Kennedy, the chairman of the Finance Committee of the Senate, the chairman of the House of Representatives' Ways and Means Committee, and all majority and minority leaders of Congress.
A fourth resolution called upon all divisions and departments of the Council to open its conferences to members of all races as "standard operating procedure. " It emphasized that all such gatherings should be held at sites "where members of all races will be welcomed. "
Warren H. Turner, Jr., vice president of the Council, reported that most Episcopal dioceses have named leaders to handle the resettlement of Cuban refugees who come into their areas. He also announced that special manuals and a brochure, entitled "Put Yourself in Their Shoes," have been distributed to the diocesan leaders.
For the continuance of departmental and divisional programs, the Council took the following actions:
-Appropriated $4, 500 for the completion of St. Christopher's Church, Frankfort, Germany. An additional loan of $4, 250 was referred to the Allocations Committee, with the recommendation that the loan be granted.
-Approved an appropriation not to exceed $20,000 to be made for bishops, clergy, and laity in Episcopal overseas missions who will attend the Anglican Congress in August.
-Granted an appropriation not to exceed $5, 000 to assist with the travel of Nippon Sei Ko Kai (Holy Catholic Church of Japan) representatives attending the Anglican Congress.
-Approved a non-interest bearing loan of $314, 000 to Seabury Press, the Church's official publisher.
-Voted to accept an offer of $26, 000 for the offices of the Division of Research and Field Study in Evanston, ll1., which is $4, 000 above what the Council paid for them.
-Appropriated $9, 900 for the continuance of a youth field work program of the Department of College Work, between their sophomore and junior years of college to do Church field work.