Executive Council Annual Meeting
Diocesan Press Service. March 8, 1965 [XXX-10]
In adopting a record budget for the programs of the Executive Council for 1965, Episcopalians were commended for their increased financial support as reflected in acceptances of quotas for the current year. The budget for 1965 totals $12, 904, 639, some $127, 622 more than the sum recommended by the 61st General Convention, an increase permitted by Convention whenever possible.
Diocesan quotas, totaling $11,220,038, account for the largest amount of estimated receipts in this budget. An additional $1, 684, 601 is expected from the United Thank Offering, trust funds, and undesignated legacies and miscellaneous sources.
Allocation of $5,497, 314 to the work of the Overseas Department, under the direction of the Rt. Rev. Stephen F. Bayne, is the largest single item of expenditures, with the Home Department, under the direction of the Rt. Rev. Daniel Corrigan, next with an appropriation of $3, 305, 961.
At its annual meeting at Seabury House Feb. 16-18, the Executive Council also gave general support to President Johnson's pending aid to education bill.
The statement which was adopted at the meeting welcomed the "inclusion of all non- profit schools in proposals for assistance in the purchase of books for school libraries and for student use." It also stressed that "primary responsibility" for public education should be "exercised by local agencies." In confirming the Church's commitment to the "value of public education and the positive strengthening of public education" as provided in the act before Congress, it added that the community's responsibility for education does "not override the basic responsibility of parents for the education of their children."
This statement was introduced jointly by the departments of Christian Education and Christian Social Relations and was based on a draft by Dr. Wilbur G. Katz, professor of law at the University of Wisconsin, and a Council member.
The Council also named directors of the American Church Institute: Bishop Fraser of North Carolina; Bishop Wright of East Carolina; Bishop Marmion of Southwestern Virginia; Bishop Myers, Suffragan Bishop of Michigan; the Ven. Richard B. Martin, Archdeacon of Brooklyn; Thomas Govan, Ph.D., New York; Charles Lawrence, Ph. D., of Brooklyn; Miss Elizabeth Beath, Mrs. Eugene Halmi, Mrs. Ernest Rucker, and the Rev. Birney Smith of Kansas City.
In other action, it was decided to initiate a special study on the matter of diocesan boundaries and it was reported that a study on the training and employment of women in the Church and church agencies is underway. The General Division of Laymen's Work reported that a closer liaison with the Brotherhood of St. Andrew is being initiated. In response to discussion from the floor on Mutual Responsibility, it was decided to hold a special order of business on the subject at the May meeting of Council. At that time the Council will also consider a statement on legalized gambling.