The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(A209)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the Budget for the Episcopal Church for the next triennium be adopted as set forth:

1.01 The Budget for the Episcopal Church for the period January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2000, which shall be a unified budget including Canonical, Corporate, and Program portions, is adopted at a total of $116,054,296.00.

1.1 The Canonical Portion, providing for the contingent expenses of the General Convention, the stipend of the Presiding Bishop and the expenses of that office, the expenses of the President of the House of Deputies, and Church Pension Fund assessments is adopted at a total of $21,602,206 as follows:

For the year 1998 $6,491,940

For the year 1999 $6,582,583

For the year 2000 $8,527,683

1.2 The Corporate Portion, providing for the requirements for the administrative support of the Domestic & Foreign Missionary Society offices, is adopted at a total of $26,020,373 as follows:

For the year 1998 $8,524,308

For the year 1999 $8,649,053

For the year 2000 $8,847,012

1.3 The Program Portion, providing for support for the mission and ministry (restricted and unrestricted) of the Church, is adopted at a total of $68,431,717 as follows:

For the year 1998 $22,688,577

For the year 1999 $22,786,572

For the year 2000 $22,956,568

2.0 The Funding policy for the period January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2000 is adopted, based on a single Asking (apportioned share) of the dioceses, applied at a flat rate of 20% of income to the diocese, reported in the diocesan financial statements for the year two years prior to the year to which the pledge is applied. "Income" includes 1) all congregational giving to the dioceses, 2) all unrestricted investment and endowment income to the diocese, 3) restricted investment and endowment income to the diocese which covers costs in the operating budget, and 4) other earnings from investments or enterprises. [Note: 1998 Askings (apportioned share) are based on 1996 actual income figures.]

2.1 That the Episcopal Church stewardship standard for congregations and dioceses of 50/50 giving within and beyond themselves is reaffirmed and is to be reflected in the following ways: those dioceses currently giving at levels above 20% maintain or increase those levels; or those dioceses currently not giving at the 20% level increase their giving to meet (or work toward) the 20% level, striving to be at 20% before the end of the triennium.

2.2 For the budgetary period income from diocesan commitments, totaling $80,805,365 is anticipated as follows:

For the year 1998 $26,121,257

For the year 1999 $26,937,894

For the year 2000 $27,746,124

2.3 For the budgetary period 1998-2000, payment by the dioceses of the Askings (apportioned share) shall be made in twelve equal monthly payments.

2.4 All additional income, other than from the Askings (apportioned share) of the dioceses, totaling $35,248,931, is projected as follows:

For the year 1998 $11,153,637

For the year 1999 $11,621,815

For the year 2000 $12,473,479

2.5 A General Ordination fee is hereby authorized, which fees shall be added to the funding from dioceses and applied to the expenses of examination as appropriated in the budget. A candidate for Holy Orders eligible for examination and so certified by the diocesan bishop shall not be disqualified for examination because the fee has not been paid.

2.6 General Convention registration and exhibitors fees are hereby authorized, which fees shall be added to the funding from dioceses and applied to the expenses of the 1997 General Convention, and for no other purpose.

3.0 In the exercise of their respective authorities, the Executive Council of the General Convention and the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance shall be subject to the following policies:

3.1 Each year, the Executive Council, with the advice of the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance, shall adjust the budget to the assured income of the Executive Council so as to carry out the Budget for the Episcopal Church for that year on a balanced budget basis.

3.2 The fiscal year shall begin January 1.

3.3 If in any year the total anticipated income for budget support is less than the amount required to support the budget approved by the General Convention, and subsequently the Executive Council, the Canonical Portion of the Budget for the Episcopal Church shall have funding priority over any other budget areas.

3.4 Any unexpended general funds in a fiscal year may be treated as revenue available for budgetary purposes in ensuing year(s), and shall be used for no other purposes.

3.5 Undesignated bequests and legacies received during the budgetary period shall be set aside in the general endowment fund of which only the income shall be used for the general purposes of the Society.

3.6 Designated bequests and legacies received during the budgetary period shall be set aside in specific funds of which only the income shall be used for the purposes so designated.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the Budget for the Episcopal Church for the next triennium be adopted as set forth:

1.01 The Budget for the Episcopal Church for the period January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2000, which shall be a unified budget including Canonical, Corporate, and Program portions, is adopted at a total of $115,543,636 114,109,095.

1.1 The Canonical Portion, providing for the contingent expenses of the General Convention, the stipend of the Presiding Bishop and the expenses of that office, the stipend and expenses of the President of the House of Deputies, and Church Pension Fund assessments is adopted at a total of $20,546,946 20,265,900 as follows:

For the year 199$6,151,451 6,031,986

For the year 199$6,219,804 6,060,712

For the year 200$8,175,691 8,173,202

1.2 The Corporate Portion, providing for the requirements for the administrative support of the Domestic & Foreign Missionary Society offices, is adopted at a total of $26,092,318 25,088,823 as follows:

For the year 1998 $8,600,507 8,258,125

For the year 1999 $8,651,615 8,314,743

For the year 2000 $8,840,196 8,515,955

1.3 The Program Portion, providing for support for the mission and ministry (restricted and unrestricted) of the Church, is adopted at a total of $67,550,958 67,400,958

For the year 1998 $22,275,491 22,225,491

For the year 1999 $22,563,416 22,513,416

For the year 2000 $22,712,051 22,662,051

2.0 The Funding policy for the period January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2000 is adopted, based on a single Asking (apportioned share) of the dioceses. After a $100,000 exemption from total income, a single asking shall be applied at a flat rate of 20 21% of the balance of income to the diocese, reported in the diocesan financial statements for the year two years prior to the year to which the pledge is applied. "Income" includes 1) all congregational giving to the dioceses, 2) all unrestricted investment and endowment income to the diocese, 3) restricted investment and endowment income to the diocese which covers costs in the operating budget, and 4) other earnings from investments or enterprises. It is intended that income shall include revenues that fund normal operating and programming expenses of the dioceses. It is not intended to include pass-through income that is used for expenses for programming that is simply administered by the dioceses, or that would not be otherwise funded by contributions from parishes or out of investment income. [Note: 1998 Askings (apportioned share) are based on 1996 actual income figures.]

2.1 That the Episcopal Church stewardship standard for congregations and dioceses of 50/50 giving within and beyond themselves is reaffirmed and is to be reflected in the following ways: those dioceses currently giving at levels above 20 21% maintain or increase those levels; those dioceses currently not giving at the 20 21% level increase their giving to meet (or work toward) the 20 21% level, striving to be at 20 21% before the end of the triennium.

2.2 For the budgetary period income from diocesan commitments, totaling $78,660,827 is anticipated as follows:

For the year 1998 $25,438,510

For the year 1999 $26,188,701

For the year 2000 $27,033,616

2.3 For the budgetary period 1998-2000, payment by the dioceses of the Askings (apportioned share) shall be made in twelve equal monthly payments.

2.4 All additional income, other than from the Askings (apportioned share) of the dioceses, totaling $35,248,931 35,458,929, is projected as follows:

For the year 1998 $11,153,636 11,223,636

For the year 1999 $11,621,816 11,691,816

For the year 2000 $12,473,477 12,543,477

2.5 A General Ordination fee is hereby authorized, which fees shall be added to the funding from dioceses and applied to the expenses of examination as appropriated in the budget. A candidate for Holy Orders eligible for examination and so certified by the diocesan bishop shall not be disqualified for examination because the fee has not been paid.

2.6 General Convention registration and exhibitors fees are hereby authorized, which fees shall be added to the funding from dioceses and applied to the expenses of the 1997 General Convention, and for no other purpose.

3.0 In the exercise of their respective authorities, the Executive Council of the General Convention and the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance shall be subject to the following policies:

3.1 Each year, the Executive Council, with the advice of the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance, shall adjust the budget to the assured income of the Executive Council so as to carry out the Budget for the Episcopal Church for that year on a balanced budget basis.

3.2 The fiscal year shall begin January 1.

3.3 If in any year the total anticipated income for budget support is less than the amount required to support the budget approved by the General Convention, and subsequently the Executive Council, the Canonical Portion of the Budget for the Episcopal Church shall have funding priority over any other budget areas.

3.4 Any unexpended general funds in a fiscal year may be treated as revenue available for budgetary purposes in ensuing year(s), and shall be used for no other purposes.

3.5 Undesignated bequests and legacies received during the budgetary period shall be set aside in the general endowment fund of which only the income shall be used for the general purposes of the Society.

3.6 Designated bequests and legacies received during the budgetary period shall be set aside in specific funds of which only the income shall be used for the purposes so designated.

Questions followed.

Debate followed on Resolution A209.

Deputy Crump of West Tennessee moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

Reduce the Canonical Portion for the year 1998 by $200,000 and 2000 by $200,000 on line 171-6831-000000 Convocation of Interim Bodies in the Detail Budget under paragraph 810 GC Committees and Commissions, page 17.

Increase the Canonical Portions for the year 1998 by $50,000 and 2000 by $50,000 shown on line 171-8101-000000 Block Grant - Meeting in the Detail Budget under paragraph 810 GC Committees and Commissions, page 17.

It is recommended to the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies that one meeting or convocation of all the Standing Commissions and the appropriate Standing Committees be held in the year 1999.

It is recommended to the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies that the block grants for the meeting expenses and miscellaneous expenses be administered by the Canonical Section of the Committee on Program, Budget and Finance which may utilize the former Challenge Process employed successfully in prior years whereby the Interim Bodies communicate their needs to the Canonical Section and to each other for mutual consideration in determining the allocation.

Deputy Sullivan of Virginia moved an amendment to the Crump amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

On page 17 detail, delete 171-6831 - Convocation of Interim Bodies $200,000 from 1998 and $200,000 from 2000, and add 171-8101 $100,000 to 1998 and $100,000 to 2000.

Vote was taken on the Sullivan amendment to the Crump amendment.

Motion defeated

Sullivan Amendment defeated

Debate followed on the Crump amendment.

Deputy Crump requested division of his own amendment to be voted on in three parts. The request was granted by the Chair.

The question was called to terminate debate on the Crump amendment.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote taken on the first part of the Crump amendment (paragraph numbers 1 and 2).

Motion defeated

First Part of Crump Amendment defeated

A vote was taken on the second part of Crump amendment (paragraph number 4).

Motion carried

Second Part of Crump Amendment adopted

A vote was taken on the third part of the Crump amendment (paragraph number 3).

Motion defeated

Third Part of Crump Amendment defeated

Deputy Mollegen of Connecticut moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

In lines 26, 39, 40, and 41, replace 21% with 22%.

Debate followed on the Mollegen amendment.

A vote was taken on the Mollegen amendment to Resolution A209 as amended.

Motion defeated

Mollegen Amendment defeated

The question was called on Resolution A209 as amended.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on Resolution A209 as amended.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #269)