Jackie Bruchi reports at Stand Firm:
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 • 9:02 am
Don't know if this is legit or not but I received this along with my morning coffee as something that is being kicked around as a possible resolution for GC09. After a reading, it seemed exactly what some revisionist would do. How bad is it that (1) I believed it could likely be an actual resolution and (2) I didn't even spit out my coffee when I read it? I found it most illuminating to read it with a heavy German accent.
"Canonical Expenses" of the 2007-2009 Budget are 19% of the entire budget. See page 6 of the budget, at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/budget2006_final_ENG.pdf. Dioceses are asked to pay 21% of their own income. According to this resolution, deputies could not vote if the dioceses did not pay 19% of that asking.
It is unfair for a diocese to force others to pay its share of the bare minimum costs of functioning as The Episcopal Church, namely, the canonical expenses of the budget. Already we demand that canonical expenses be paid first before any other cuts may be made in the budget (1.4.6d)
While all dioceses are encouraged to contribute to the Budget of General Convention (currently 21%), those who fail to meet that standard, for whatever reason, will lose their vote only if they do pay at least the asking multiplied by the percent canonical expenses represented in the overall budget.
Example of how the formula would work:
Diocese X earned $100,000 in the triennium for which payments to the budget are calculated. The canonical portion of the budget in that triennium is 19%. Dioceses are asked to contribute 21% of their earnings for the triennium ($21,000). The deputies of the diocese would not be allowed to vote if the diocese did not pay at least 19% of the asking, $3,990.
"Some dioceses intentionally contribute no money whatsoever to the mission and life of The Episcopal Church. Several others create their own formulas, always offering less than the 21% Asking. Some dioceses are genuinely unable to meet the Asking. If all our dioceses did contribute at the Asking level, our mission would be funded by an additional $8,000,000 each year, or $24,000,000 for the triennium."
From the Budget for The Episcopal Church, 2007-2009, pages 1-2
"'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!.' Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died and a great fear seized all who heard it. The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him." --Acts 5: 3-6
The rest of this passage appears to be missing so let me add it here:
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
This passage has much to teach us but to imply it is even remotely connected to what is being proposed in this alleged resolution is ridiculous. Possibly, the writer would benefit from reading this passage at 2 Corinthians 9:7:
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
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