For the upcoming triennium, revenues are forecast at $141.3 million as compared with a projected $164.9 million in the current triennium. A major area of change is a reduction in Diocesan commitments of $11 million from $90.5 million to $79.2 million. Much of this reduction is due to the increased exemption (going from 100K to 120K) and a reduction in the asking percentage from 21% to 20% to 19% in the years 2010 through 2012. This may still prove an optimistic assumption as to revenues from the various dioceses. Time will tell.Emphasis added.
Total expenses for the coming triennium were budgeted at $140.8 million as compared to a projected amount of $163.9 million for the current period. Entire programs were cut and this should lead to a reduction in the workforce at 815 (the Church’s national office). One category of expenses was considerably increased from the draft budget circulated
several months ago and that item was for the Title IV legal assistance. The original draft budgeted $1,800,000. The approved budget is $4,000,000. Title IV and legal assistance to dioceses relates to property litigation and disciplinary
situations.During the budget hearings, there were numerous calls for amendments to various areas of the expense budget. All were defeated. After the budget was passed, prayers were offered “for those who bear great burdens for what we have chosen not to do in this budget.”
One of the interesting proposals in the budget is a two day reduction in the next General Convention. It will be interesting
to see how that proposal fares as it seems to me that those who “drive the train” really like “driving the train”.
Maybe Disney should march on 815 for their unjust employment practices.
I knew Ed very well for many years at St. Luke’s in Baton Rouge; his report sounds, well, just like him!
What’s with the picture of John Bulushi from Animal House for a clergy house party (pg. 2)?
I have to disagree with his comment that… ”You can’t fly an airplane with just a left wing, you need a right one too.” Sure you can. The airplane goes down in a spiral until it crashes. Sound familiar?
Maybe they can combine the evangelism and litigation budgets and see if they can get some of the battalion of lawyers to show up for Mass on Sunday. It’ll only cost them $500/hr for each amboo-lance-chaser in a pew.
Oh well, we all know it takes money to make money…
But then you can not serve both God and money. I guess they made their choice. And a poor one at that. We all remember too that we shall know the type of tree by its fruit.
#4 the plane analogy fails if you have enough reserve lift built into the aircraft design…a plane can fly on one wing
see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_EXtBEaBbs for proof
I would suggest property fights and endowments are going to provide the reserve lift for TEC
Speaking of litigation
Judge Corona here in Fresno, Ca has ruled on our case (San Joaquin) and it was in favor of TEc….this is a set back but by all means is not the end…..we still have a trial date coming up but this does not help. The Anglican Curmudgeon has the sordid details if you are interested in this.
Good old Ed! Honest, up front, smart as a whip, and faithful beyond measure.
If he says the folks who are “driving the train” really like “driving the train” you can take that to the bank. In fact, they’ll keep driving it even though it may have left the tracks years ago.
KTF!...mrb
Title IV legal assistance. The original draft budgeted $1,800,000. The approved budget is $4,000,000. Title IV and legal assistance to dioceses relates to property litigation and disciplinary situations.
When one combines this with the amount budgeted for Evangelism (Zero), it says volumes. First the Presiding Bishop says that Christ is only one way to salvation. That brings into question whether Evangelism is even necessary. If there is no Evangelism (this has been replaced in TEC by “outreach”) there is no power given to the church by the Holy Spirit. A church that has abandoned the uniqueness of Christ and His Great Commission is only a social welfare agency.