The Episcopal Church has had multiple splits over sexual and theological issues, all of which have drained numerous dioceses of funds. The Virginia diocese's budget is up by 4.5 percent this year, but that has come at the expense of maintaining a staff of only 24 full- and part-time workers.
It's the smallest staff of the nation's five largest dioceses, said Bishop Lee, adding that there will be "unwanted turnover" unless larger salary increases are forthcoming.
"That was a departure for him [Bishop Lee, Diocese of Virginia] to be that forthright," said Steve van Voorhees, a council teller. "He's never put money in his pastoral address before." Diocesan treasurer Mike Kerr said some churches have curtailed their giving out of fear that the money may go toward the lawsuit and have asked whether they can restrict where their funds go.
Calling restricted giving "a slippery slope," Mr. Kerr said that the $70,000 needed to service the $2 million line of credit is coming out of an endowment fund, not out of the diocese's $4.7 million 2008 budget.
It's the smallest staff of the nation's five largest dioceses, said Bishop Lee, adding that there will be "unwanted turnover" unless larger salary increases are forthcoming.
"That was a departure for him [Bishop Lee, Diocese of Virginia] to be that forthright," said Steve van Voorhees, a council teller. "He's never put money in his pastoral address before." Diocesan treasurer Mike Kerr said some churches have curtailed their giving out of fear that the money may go toward the lawsuit and have asked whether they can restrict where their funds go.
Calling restricted giving "a slippery slope," Mr. Kerr said that the $70,000 needed to service the $2 million line of credit is coming out of an endowment fund, not out of the diocese's $4.7 million 2008 budget.
1 comments:
It would seem Bishop Lee must be inept at making his own bed for now he finds it difficult to sleep in it. Sad evolution of events, but he is the creator of his diocese's circumstance. It could have been better than this.
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