AN OPEN LETTER TO PARISHIONERS OF TRINITY EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL
From Bam Gressette, Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Vestry

The Finance Committee has undergone the most difficult budgeting process in which I have
ever participated over 2 vestry terms and 6 years on the Finance Committee. After reviewing
the pledge payments from 2007 and the 2008 annual pledges, the Finance Committee
proposed and the vestry approved a significant across-the-board budget cut versus the initial
2008 spending plan.

The cuts are primarily the result of two factors:

1.) The total of 2007 pledges that have not been paid is more than $100,000. (Use
actual)
2.) We have not received pledges for 2008 from over 100 pledging units that
pledged last year.

Because we have received significantly less income than was pledged last year, and we have
not received the usual number of pledges for 2008, the Finance Committee had no choice
but to make some serious cuts in the budget. If you have an outstanding balance on your
2007 pledge, please make every effort to complete your pledge as soon as possible, preferably
by May 30th. Statements reflecting 2007 balances were recently mailed to those with
an outstanding balance. Even if you cannot fully complete the pledge immediately, please
let us know if we can count on receiving the balance over the course of 2008.

Many of us find it uncomfortable to discuss money in a church setting, and ideally we
should not have to. I generally feel this way. However, the reality is that if we want to have
first class programs, worship, facilities, music, mission, clergy, etc., it takes money. Just
like every family has to pay its bills, the church has to pay utilities, insurance, salaries, and
so forth. To take our experience at Trinity to an even higher level (such as enhancing our
outstanding and growing youth programs), it will take even more money. We need your
pledge.

It also means paying what you pledge on a timely basis, and sending your pledge card
in PROMPTLY so the Finance Committee knows the approximate amount of funds from
which we can budget. We would love to be able to expand the programs and mission work,
but to do that, we need prompt pledges and payments. Many parishioners wait until yearend
to make the bulk of their pledge, which further strains the budget. However, if you are
able to pay throughout the year, doing so would significantly help the Cathedral’s cash flow
which could further enhance the overall programming for the church. We are grateful to
those of you that pledge and pay promptly, and we are equally grateful that so many have
already made pledges to the Restoration Project.

While this letter does not apply to most parishioners, I feel that it is necessary to let everyone
know our current financial situation and the cumulative effect everyone’s pledge
and the payment thereof has on our church. The Finance Committee thanks you for your
support.

Respectfully Submitted,
L. M. Gressette III
Chairman, Finance Committee

I have no sympathy for L. M. Gressette III, Chairman, Finance Committee.  He would love to expand the programs, love to expand the missions, love to have first-class facilities - and he could probably do it all, too, if he and his overlords would do one thing: cut off the gravy train to 815.  Should be a simple call for a Christian, really; 815 isn’t doing anything for his diocese, anyway, and what comes along with it are witchcraft books and pagan liturgies being retailed on the national website, enablement of the National Unitarian Tour of the Presiding Officer, etc.

But no.

All that stuff L. M. Gressette III, Chairman, Finance Committee, would love to have gets priority number 2 - right after 815.  And so it seems, as in the case of the larger Anglican Communion, the decision has been made by certain parties, even though their howls of rage are directed at everybody else but themselves.

When you sow an empty theology, you get empty collection plates.  Pretty simple.

The laity speaks!  Who is listening?

bb

The sermon on the “amount” (pun intended) is not reflecting the sermon from the pulpit! Or is it?

One of the most basic principles of church finances is that “parishoners vpte with their pocket books”.

The most chilling part of this article, Sarah, is that the bishop is threatening to reduce the stayers to mission status.  Even the liberal remnants in Virginia resisted such things that could be threatened by the bishop (one of the oddest coalitions at Council has been between the orthodox and the liberals over limiting the bishop’s power - the bishop tried to change the canons last year and the orthodox remnant and liberals banded together so that the chancellor withdrew the canon changes before it could come to a vote).  To allow a bishop to reduce (or threaten to reduce) a parish to missionstatus is to hand over complete power to the bishop so that he will control all aspects of the parish.  It’s a major, major loss on so many levels.

It’s a threat not only to this parish, but to other parishes who may be thinking of the same thing.  Of all the things in this article - the threat or the action to actually reduce a parish to mission status is the most insidious.  He’s punishing those who are departing and he’s constraining those who remain - it’s awful.  I can’t even find the words.  I know you love your bishop, but this is appalling behavior and laity and clergy must resist if there is to be any hope left in Upper South Carolina. 

Mark my words.

bb

Sorry - I meant to post this on the other thread regarding Upper South Carolina. 

bb

Last year “we” were told that we would pay our “share” to the national church despite the fact that it was voted as a low priority...diocesan salaries and travel expenses were raised..also a low priority..mission support; a high priority was cut...the churches speak, the diocese decrees..last year they “won”..a lot of people walked and others refused to fund what they did not agree to...so what is so surprising about this?  If you in Columbia would ..LOVE TO PROVIDE..perhaps it is time to listen to what we are willing and wanting to support.

I find it curious that this letter does not even try to address the reasons for the shortfall.  It reads as if several ‘pledging units’ simply neglected to send in their pledges for reasons unknown.  When people are angry, they withold their money.  And when the powers that be ignore the reasons for the anger, it only hardens those not giving more securely into their position.  So this would lead me to believe the purpose of this letter is to get those who have met their pledges to give even more to cover the shortfall.  If so, then this quote is placed in quite a different light.

While this letter does not apply to most parishioners, I feel that it is necessary to let everyone know our current financial situation and the cumulative effect everyone’s pledge and the payment thereof has on our church.

carl

The problem with much of the PECUSA is that amatuers are operating it. The professionals stopped being trained years ago. Imagine the idea of wanting to go to Seminary, wanting to study God and knowing that the next three years are about the ideas that God and all the Disciples got it wrong in the Bible and of course All things Queer. With that type of leadership the guy seem overqualified and too professional for the crowd.

Dorsey Henderson chose to fully fund 815 and let the local diocese suffer. It appears that the people in the pews are not agreeing with his financial priorities.

The Church of Nigeria authorities have explained that no polygamists are eligible for their clergy.  I am quoting below from a Bishop of Eastern Nigeria, and see emphasis (in my capitals):

“We approach polygamy from an evangelistic point of view. The polygamist is at the unconverted stage. Now he hears the Word of God and comes to the Lord. We accept him as he is and we disciple them to the point that they see this way of life is contrary to the word of scripture. For the sake of our understanding of a compassionate God we instruct them to take no further wives and take care of the wives and kids they have as they become believers. We are not callous in our discipling of them. We do say no more wives. We teach them new responsibilities. THEY ARE NOT PERMITTED LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE CHURCH. They can be in charge of building projects, but they CANNOT BE PRIESTS OR BISHOPS. The truth, however is that polygamy is dying. A new generation of men and women is more interested in learning and education. It is a myth to say the church endorses polygamy as a lifestyle.” --Rt. Rev. Ikechi Nwachukwu Nwosu, Bishop of Umuahia in Eastern Nigeria

Sorry--my post (above) got into the wrong thread, and I apologize.

Did 815 get its full cut so that Bp. Henderson can continue to exert national leadership?

(This was, as I recall, the argument made to the diocesan convention.)

Interesting to pick up the day’s news so late. So will the whole diocese go mission status? You pay or we sell the diocese to raise funds (yep, I mean sell off all the parishes)? Or at least that’s my first thought reading this and considering the possibilities.

Paula has it right, that was the Bishop’s argument last year after some bold upstaters suggested we cut the national tax.

Oops, I think I meant Iranaeus #14

I think the Bishop even made his impassioned plea to give full funding to 815 using the statement, “Give unto Ceasar what is Ceasar’s!” Correct me if I heard him wrong…

Their website says they are a thriving congregation with 4200 members. Well, if only 100 haven’t pledged, its just an insignificant number and probably just orthodox folks who are upset with 815 - fits the national demographic of All is Well. They just need to right-size the services to the realities of our time.

I am sure that in time those orthodox will find a new church home and their pledges will be well received.

I guess the question is: What should be cut? In the spirit of governance, it probably will be the most-loved programs.