...“As we transition into this new phase in the missionary program we have to acknowledge the increase in costs,” said the Rev. David Copley, mission personnel officer in a letter published on the Anglican and Global Relations section of The Episcopal Church website.

“The provision of lay pension will increase our budget by approximately $130,000 annually, and our health insurance premium increased this year by 13 percent equating to a budget increase of approximately $50,000. We have also had a general reduction in our overall budget of 5 percent in 2008 due to budget constraints within DFMS. Facing these realities we have decided to modify the compensation package offered to missionaries. In addition to looking closely at the budget, we have taken into account the costs of the February discernment retreats and June orientation programs, projected the cost of the proposed regional retreats, and focused on the essential support that we feel must be offered to all missionaries.”

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Wll, let’s be fair, it isn’t just about the lawsuits. Those labyrinths and 1-900 telephone counseling sessions aren’t exactly cheap. A church has to have its priorities, you know!

I have a blog thingy

[1] Posted by Matthew A (formerly mousestalker) on 03-13-2008 at 05:18 AM • top

The beatings will continue until morale improves.

[2] Posted by hanks on 03-13-2008 at 06:57 AM • top

History is replete with examples of the decline of many empires, and a telling symptom of these collapses is not simply an increase in internal corruption and increasing loss of morals and principles but withdrawal of ‘aggressive’ outward movement to protective internal barriers. The withdrawal of funding for missionary work is as true a sign of the decline of ECUSA as was the withdrawal and collapse of civil and military outposts in the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.

[3] Posted by Bill C on 03-13-2008 at 07:09 AM • top

On the other hand, does this mean that TEc will be exporting less of its special brand of Fresh H*ll to the rest of the world? Maybe it’s not all bad news.

[4] Posted by Connie Sandlin on 03-13-2008 at 07:48 AM • top

#4 Connie Sandlin,

One can hope it means that!

[5] Posted by Athanasius Returns on 03-13-2008 at 08:13 AM • top

Excuse me, Matt, but why do you think they need to spend money on missionaries? Isn’t the current belief that all paths are valid? Didn’t Bruno and company just apologize for trying to evangelize non-christians? Come on, man. Get on the bus.

[6] Posted by JackieB on 03-13-2008 at 09:03 AM • top

...our health insurance premium increased this year by 13 percent equating to a budget increase of approximately $50,000.

The Episcopal Church would be paying less on health insurance if it didn’t pay for coverage of “domestic partners” of its employees at 815. It’s obvious that Executive Council doesn’t have its priorities straight when it chooses to cut expenses of the missionaries.
This situation is a glaring example of how people will make irresponsible decisions in spite of the consequences. A neighbor of mine volunteers at a local social services agency. Recently, she told me that one of their “regular customers” came in looking for help to pay the electric bill. Her forearm had a slight reddish tint because she had just gotten an elaborate and garish tattoo for which she was apparently able to pay even though it left her unable to pay the power company.
However, this decision of the Executive Council is even more egregious because they are spending other people’s money. These folks somehow pretend that because they used Robert’s Rules of Order when conducting the meeting then their decisions are valid.

[7] Posted by Piedmont on 03-13-2008 at 09:48 AM • top

Excuse me, Matt, but why do you think they need to spend money on missionaries? Isn’t the current belief that all paths are valid? Didn’t Bruno and company just apologize for trying to evangelize non-christians? Come on, man. Get on the bus.

And wasn’t there another illuminary of TEC who also stated we have enough Christians?

[8] Posted by Mike L on 03-13-2008 at 10:45 AM • top

The Chesshire cat…..soon they will be reduced to stocking the bar only with Old Thunderbird and Ripple and Champale. Tough times.

[9] Posted by PROPHET MICAIAH on 03-13-2008 at 10:48 AM • top

Someone wrote about the numbers of missionaries supported per member of the the denomination. The TEc had one missionary for a gazillion members. Southern Baptists had one per 500 members. Does someone have the exact figures?

[10] Posted by robroy on 03-13-2008 at 12:47 PM • top

Why would a left wing secular political organization need missionaries? People in foreign countries can’t vote for left wing Democrats, so what’s the point?

Besides, what would a TEC missionary tell someone? Join us and you can do what you want. People who are not Christians are doing what they want anyway. Come hear about MDG’s and Global warming and give us 10% of your money. That’s sure pack ‘em in.

[11] Posted by BillS on 03-13-2008 at 01:27 PM • top

Ironic that ECUSA’s official corporate name is . . . the Domestic and Foreign MISSIONARY SOCIETY of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

[12] Posted by Irenaeus on 03-13-2008 at 08:30 PM • top

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