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September 26, 2023
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Celebrated pastor and theologian Frederick Buechner once said, “Turn around and believe that the good news that we are loved is better than we ever dared hope, and that to believe in that good news, to live out of it and toward it, to be in love with that good news, is of all glad things in this world the gladdest thing of all.”
Our vocation as followers of Jesus is both a tremendous responsibility and an awesome blessing. We are called to be stewards of God’s Good News by living from a place of gratitude and investing ourselves in the holy work of embodying this love to all people everywhere. Earlier in September, The Episcopal Church shared the church-wide parochial report for every diocese. I am in awe of the continued generosity of the Diocese of Western North Carolina. While the following data points may be different from your particular parish context, as a whole diocese:
- Average Sunday attendance grew 13.2% between 2021-2022
- Average household pledges grew 16% between 2018-2022, specifically a 3.6% increase last year alone.
Even with the blessing I shared above, it is equally clear, based on financial trends in the market, I am anticipating a 5% drop in what we pull from funds in income distribution. I also anticipate this will impact your pledges based on 2022 Parochial Reports and a 36-month rolling average.
As your bishop, I remain committed to responsible stewardship of the funds entrusted to us and conserving resources in the proposed 2024 budget. Above all, the vision for 2024 is to not only lean into conserving expenses but also support and responsibly enhance the good work we are already doing in our existing mission areas, including our college and young adult ministries; Latino ministries; Iona School for Ministry; Building Beloved Community initiatives; and our Curacy initiative to bring our recent seminary graduates back to the Diocese.
I invite your attention to two particular areas in our proposed 2024 budget. First, we are directing new resources to expand ministry for children and family formation. Second, while we are reducing diocesan grants back to 2022 levels, as in past years, any additional revenue will be shifted into grant areas. This is especially true for supporting Justice and Outreach grants which have traditionally been based on Human Hurt and Hope annual income distribution; now that HHH funds have been completely expended, we are supporting this budget line item out of operations.
I believe that the journey of faith with Jesus is an adventure into God’s bold, wildly imaginative, joyful, and merciful mission of redemption and reconciliation. In the year ahead, we will continue to participate in courageous ministry that is both a reflection of God’s mission and Christ’s love for neighbors and stranger alike. I invite you to consider your giving thoughtfully and prayerfully to the Diocese in 2024.
You may find the link to the online pledge form here.
Thank you and your congregation for all you do to serve Christ. I celebrate our shared ministry and look forward to what we will do together to build up the Kingdom of God.
Blessings,
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