By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
10/17/2008
Citing declining income, the Bishop of the Diocese of Central New York, Gladstone "Skip" Adams has announced staff layoffs in a letter to his clergy, wardens and standing.
"It is clear that the financial realities of today's economy are creating challenges for our congregations in terms of assessment and investment revenue. Increased energy costs place additional pressures on already stretched budgets. These challenges obviously impact the financial resources available on the Diocesan level for staff, programming, and ministry," he wrote.
The diocese recently filed a lawsuit against the Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, New York, in an effort to seize the church building, the parish hall, and the rectory. This is the third church Adams has moved to seize since 2006, and the second church he has actually sued.
One other church, St. Andrew's Church in nearby Vestal, New York, surrendered its property to the bishop rather than face a lawsuit. That church building was taken over by the Episcopal diocese shortly before Christmas of 2007 and is now vacant and for sale. The congregation is worshiping elsewhere and thriving.
St. Andrew's, Syracuse, the first church Adams sued has also moved out of their buildings and those buildings are up for sale. In addition, that church, an (AMIA) congregation has spawned Westside Anglican Fellowship (WAF) a (CANA) congregation. WAF will install their first priest-in-charge next Sunday. CANA Bishop David Bena will ordain and install Dr. Jeffrey Altman, Professor of Psychology at Roberts Wesleyan College at the Westside Anglican Fellowship.
For the bishop's full statement click here:
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/content/dcny_staff_reorganization_memo.pdf
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