LEMONADE STAND
Got any spare cash lying around? Pension you’re not using, 401K just sitting there, some antique in the attic appraised for six figures, that kind of thing? If you do, New Jersey Episcopal Bishop George Councell would like to hear from you:
The Diocesan Finance and Budget Committee has been seriously deliberating the issues necessary to produce the annual, balanced Diocesan budget for 2012. That budget, as always, is built primarily upon the pledges made by our individual congregations related to the Askings. The preliminary budget for 2012, approved at the 2011 Convention, was predicated on receipt of pledges at 70% of the asking. The actual commitments to date, when added to estimates for the forty congregations yet to make a pledge, accrue to only 60% of the asking.
When we combine the estimated income with an extremely tight expense budget projection, and as we search for a new bishop, we are almost $600,000 underfunded. Even after planning, as a result, to reduce our budgeted pledge to The Episcopal Church to a tithe, we are still left with a lot of ground to make up.
To those 27 congregations who have already pledged the full asking, and to those of you who continue to move toward that goal by increasing your pledges, thank you. Perhaps this communication will underscore to your congregations the true importance of your continued leadership and support, as well as our appreciation for it. Unfortunately, numerous congregations have reduced their comparative commitment. A dozen of the larger churches have reduced their pledges by a combined total of over $130,000. Finally, many, many congregations have pledged less than 10% of their parochial income.
I wouldn’t worry about it, Bishop. You could have a diocesan telethon or something to raise enough scratch to tide you over until all those progressives start flooding into Episcopal church because of Gene Robinson. They’ll be here any day now. Trust me.
The Diocesan Finance and Budget Committee has been seriously deliberating the issues necessary to produce the annual, balanced Diocesan budget for 2012. That budget, as always, is built primarily upon the pledges made by our individual congregations related to the Askings. The preliminary budget for 2012, approved at the 2011 Convention, was predicated on receipt of pledges at 70% of the asking. The actual commitments to date, when added to estimates for the forty congregations yet to make a pledge, accrue to only 60% of the asking.
When we combine the estimated income with an extremely tight expense budget projection, and as we search for a new bishop, we are almost $600,000 underfunded. Even after planning, as a result, to reduce our budgeted pledge to The Episcopal Church to a tithe, we are still left with a lot of ground to make up.
To those 27 congregations who have already pledged the full asking, and to those of you who continue to move toward that goal by increasing your pledges, thank you. Perhaps this communication will underscore to your congregations the true importance of your continued leadership and support, as well as our appreciation for it. Unfortunately, numerous congregations have reduced their comparative commitment. A dozen of the larger churches have reduced their pledges by a combined total of over $130,000. Finally, many, many congregations have pledged less than 10% of their parochial income.
I wouldn’t worry about it, Bishop. You could have a diocesan telethon or something to raise enough scratch to tide you over until all those progressives start flooding into Episcopal church because of Gene Robinson. They’ll be here any day now. Trust me.
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