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Resolution Number: 2006-D079
Title: Adopt the Budget for the Episcopal Church
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred
Final Text:

Resolved, That the Budget for The Episcopal Church for the next triennium be adopted as set forth:

1.0 The Budget for The Episcopal Church for the period January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2009, which shall be a unified budget including Canonical, Corporate, and Program (mission) portions, is adopted at a total of $152,002,295.00.
1.1Canonical portion, providing for the contingent expenses of the General Convention, the stipend of the Presiding Bishop and the expenses of that office, the expenses of the President of the House of Deputies, and Church Pension Fund assessments is adopted at a total of $ 29,149,874.00 as follows:

For the year 2007 $ 8,820,134.00

For the year 2008 $ 9,059,966.00

For the year 2009 $ 11,269,773.00

1.2 Program (mission) portion, providing for support for the mission and ministry (restricted and unrestricted) of the Church, is adopted at a total of $ 93,569,078.00 as follows:

For the year 2007 $ 31,020,138.00

For the year 2008 $ 30,991,486.00

For the year 2009 $ 31,557,453.00

1.3Corporate portion, providing for the requirements for the administrative support of the Domestic & Foreign Missionary Society offices, is adopted at a total of $30,108,344.00 as follows:

For the year 2007 $ 9,893,439.00

For the year 2008 $ 10,003,909.00

For the year 2009 $ 10,210,995.00

1.4In order to achieve a balanced budget for the triennium, management will identify and effect staff cost reductions of $825,000.00 through attrition and retirement. This reduction will be achieved throughout the Canonical, Program and Corporate portions of the Budget.
2.0The funding policy for the period January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2009 is adopted, based on a single Asking (apportioned share) of the dioceses. After a $100,000 exemption from total income, a single asking shall be applied at a flat rate of 21% of the balance of income to the diocese, reported in the diocesan financial statements for the year two years prior to the year to which the pledge is applied [e.g.: 2007 Askings (apportioned share) are to be based on 2005 actual income figures]. “Income” includes 1) all congregational giving to the diocese, 2) all unrestricted investment and endowment income to the diocese, 3) restricted investment and endowment income to the diocese which covers costs in the operating budget, and 4) other earnings from investments or enterprises. It is intended that income shall include revenues that fund normal operating and program expenses of the dioceses. It is not intended to include pass-through income that is used for expenses for programming that are simply administered by the dioceses, or that would not be otherwise funded by contributions from parishes or out of investment income.
2.1We rejoice with dioceses that have moved toward, and those that give at and above, the 21% Asking. Such giving creates a strong financial basis for vital mission and witness of The Episcopal Church. We encourage all our dioceses to adopt the 21% Asking; then we could allocate an additional 8 million dollars each year toward fulfilling the mission priorities which we have embraced in this 75th General Convention.
2.2For the budgetary period income from diocesan commitments, totaling $92,978,494.00 is anticipated as follows:

For the year 2007 $ 30,087,248.00

For the year 2008 $ 30,983,865.00

For the year 2009 $ 31,907,381.00

2.3For the budgetary period 2007–2009, payment by the dioceses of the Askings shall be made in twelve equal monthly payments.
2.4 All additional income, other than from the Askings of the dioceses, totaling, is projected as follows $59,024,493.00:

For the year 2007 $ 18,551,046.00

For the year 2008 $ 19,376,194.00

For the year 2009 $ 21,097,253.00

2.5A General Ordination fee is hereby authorized, which fees shall be added to the funding from dioceses and applied to the expenses of examination as appropriated in the budget. A candidate for Holy Orders eligible for examination and so certified by the diocesan bishop shall not be disqualified for examination because the fee has not been paid.
2.6General Convention registration and exhibitors fees are hereby authorized, which fees shall be added to the funding from dioceses and applied to the expenses of the 2009 General Convention, and for no other purpose.
3.0 In the exercise of their respective authorities, the Executive Council of the General Convention and the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance shall be subject to the following policies:
3.1Each year, the Executive Council, with the advice of the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance, shall adjust the budget to the assured income of the Executive Council so as to carry out the Budget for The Episcopal Church for that year on a balanced budget basis.
3.2Resolutions of the General Convention calling for the expenditures of any moneys (or containing implied funding) which are not included in the adopted Budget for The Episcopal Church will not have special claim, advanced standing or priority for funding by the Executive Council.
3.3The fiscal year shall begin January 1.
3.4If in any year the total anticipated income for budget support is less than the amount required to support the budget approved by the General Convention, the Canonical portion of the Budget for The Episcopal Church shall have funding priority over any other budget areas.
3.5Undesignated bequests and legacies received during the budgetary period shall be set aside in the general endowment fund of which only the income shall be used for the general purposes of the Society.
3.6Designated bequests and legacies received during the budgetary period shall be set aside in specific funds of which only the income shall be used for the purposes so designated.
3.7Each Committee, Commission, Agency and Board (CCAB) proposing to the General Convention any resolution with funding implications shall present to the Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance a detailed budget in support of its plan(s), including cost estimates from contractors and suppliers for all goods and services, by no later than six months before the opening day of the General Convention.
3.8Subsequent editions of the Mission Statement and Budget Proposal of the Presiding Bishop and Executive Council to the 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church contain the following information for each year of the preceding triennium:

A description of the actual income and expenditures of the DFMS, relating the expenditures to the Church’s priorities with accompanying narrative

Endowment balance and total investment return, with accompanying narrative.

Posting of this report on the DFMS website when it is released to the Bishops and Deputies.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006 (New York: General Convention, 2007), pp. 332-335.