Looking
forward in challenging times
as pilgrims on a journey ...
Bishop MacPherson's message for February 2010
The message being shared with you this month draws upon my comments to Diocesan Council at our regular meeting on January 19, 2010. The focus of these words rests upon the presentation of the operating budget for 2010, and the fact that due to being faced with a considerably reduced response to the Diocesan Asking, we are having to make some serious cuts in the diocesan budget. The reduction is critical enough that I was faced with making a decision of funding ministries in the diocese, or having a Canon to the Ordinary. Sadly, I had no other option than to choose to cut the latter, and eliminate the position of the Rev'd Canon Larry G. Wilkes as of January 31, 2010. This was painful action to take as Canon Wilkes has served this diocese faithfully and represented me favourably in many ways.
What has brought us to this point? Early last year when the economy began to shift in a negative direction, I shared with Diocesan Council and other diocesan leadership, that we need to, and would be, watching the flow of income and expenses quite closely. I also shared at the time that we could not let the ministries in the diocese be impaired, for ministry is what the Church is all about. Consequently, Gray Easterling, diocesan treasurer, and Kathy Richey, our staff finance person, shared with me in reviewing carefully the continuity of the budget on a regular basis. This watchful endeavour enabled us to end the year in relatively good condition and with an unexpended income of about $72,000.00 over expenses.
Entering into our preparation of the 2010 operating budget this past Spring, the Finance Committee and I carefully pruned the proposed budget as we looked at each item carefully. This was done in order to address the indicators on the horizon that several congregations were facing some serious cuts locally.
The Finance Committee did follow-up work on the budget that was prepared in August 2009 and shared with Diocesan Convention in October, and subsequent work was done by Gray Easterling, Kathy Richey and me. The bottom line that led to this follow-up work was the reality that we were facing a deficit of $304,274.00 in anticipated revenue for 2010.
In looking at our approach to addressing the deficit, it was important to recognize that we now have a number of ministries that after much hard work over the past few years, are bearing fruit. Thus, it was critical that the cuts be done in a manner in which the ministry of the diocese would not be impaired. With this step fulfilled, we ended up with a budget deficit of $46,551.78, and to balance the budget, we drew this from the unexpended income of 2009 cited above.
I will confess that it was tempting to consider not making the cuts, and covering the entire deficit by drawing upon reserves, but this is not in the best interest of the diocese as we look toward the future, nor is this a responsible practice to initiate.
With the responses to the Diocesan Asking being in hand, and as a part of the analysis of the reduced response, I looked at the diocese very carefully, and at the makeup and ministry of each congregation. It was evident that some had been impacted severely by the economy and had no choice but to respond as they had; some were exercising the utilization of funds more locally; some were facing the reality of not being able to provide for the continuing engagement of their priest, and would be faced with having to reduce to one part-time clergy person had they responded more fully; others felt it important to increase their staffing; and there were those who held tightly to their budgeting plans and responded accordingly.
Where does this leave us? For the time, with only one ordained person at Diocesan House-the Bishop; and two full-time support staff, the bishop's assistant, and an administrator. Obviously I will be looking closely at the various appointments that I have made and will make in order to strengthen and raise up the support of the laity and clergy more fully in diocesan life. Additionally, I envision drawing upon others in the diocese to lend support.
Further, I am factoring into this the reality that the diocese will be looking toward a new bishop in about two and some half years, and it is important for the diocese to be portrayed for what it truly is. This will, as was shared at the last Diocesan Convention, and on more than one occasion with Diocesan Council, include the evaluation of the status of congregations as it applies to the canonical status of parishes, missions, and mission stations. This has also been shared of late with some congregations as I have travelled the diocese, and much more will be shared in the coming months as I make my visitation to your respective congregations.
The process for recognizing ministries of the congregations as they truly are was initiated two years ago, and is pretty much in line at this time as they apply to rectors, vicars, priests-in-charge, priests-in-residence, and supply. This too will be covered as applicable as I make my visitations.
For clarification at this time, a rector is a person serving a parish on a full-time, fully compensated basis with all required benefits being provided; a vicar is a person, appointed by the bishop, and serving a mission on a full-time, fully compensated basis with all required benefits being provided; a priest-in-charge is a person appointed by the bishop serving a congregation on a part-time basis, and providing the leadership for the day-to-day life of the congregation; a priest-in-residence is a person appointed by the bishop and serving a congregation on a part-time and regular basis, and with the day-to-day leadership being provided by the vestry or Bishop's committee; and lastly, a supply priest is a person who serves congregations on an as-needed, fill-in basis.
One other area is that of the Canterbury ministries, and here again, as was shared at our last Diocesan Convention, I have called upon the Mission Department of Diocesan Council, under the direction of the chair, the Very Rev'd Catherine Thompson, to visit and evaluate these ministries in light of the stewardship of the diocesan funding. These ministries are important and have been a priority for me since coming to the diocese, and it is imperative that we do all we can to ensure their well-being and the ministry being offered.
I realize this no doubt sounds like a lot to embrace, but do truly feel it is best for us to see the challenges that are before us as opportunities for ministry development. This can be an enriching period within our life and ministry shared, especially in light of the words of Jesus, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. " [John 15:1-2]
In closing, I ask your prayers for me and our diocese as we continue on the pilgrimage to which Christ has called us and the ministry we share.
"O Christ, all who call you Saviour are pilgrims, following One who never stands still. Your way, Lord Jesus, leads us through rough and smooth terrain. Sometimes your path is seldom used, and may even be overgrown and unpopular. At other times is well-trodden. But as our journey continues into this new year, we need the Light which only you can shed upon the path we travel. When we are tempted to detour from your direction, give us courage and renew our faith that the journey of lives does indeed lead to the promised land of God's Kingdom. Amen." [drawn and adapted from All the Seasons of Mercy 1987]
Faithfully in the Light of Christ,
The Rt. Rev’d D. Bruce MacPherson,
D.D.
III Bishop of Western Louisiana
