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Mission Support Staff Announcement
from Bishop Brown
Dear Beloved of God in Delaware,
I have the unfortunate task of sharing challenging news. In light of substantial budget constraints, funding for three positions at the Mission Support Office will no longer be supported in 2024.
Last week I had honest, yet difficult, conversations with three amazing staff members — Judy Barnes, Lola Michael Russell, and Toni Snow — informing them of the painful necessity for downsizing. These are three dedicated, faithful, and talented followers of Jesus Christ. Each has been incredibly important to our mission support across the diocese, and I have no doubt they will be greatly missed across the state. They all have opted to continue working through the end of 2023, for which I am immensely grateful.
This decision was necessary because without it and other measures, Diocesan Council’s 2024 budget would have resulted in a deficit of nearly $250,000 on top of a $120,000 deficit projected for this year. While Diocesan Council, like many parishes, has some reserve funds in place to cover the occasional annual shortfall, recurring six-figure deficits are neither wise nor sustainable. In addition to these painful staff cuts, I have asked that other expense lines be held to 2023 levels wherever possible (which includes a 0% cost of living adjustment for remaining staff).
With these changes in place, Diocesan Council has approved a 2024 Proposed Budget for diocesan convention approval that projects a small surplus. (The surplus results from planning uncertainties around parishes that have not yet determined their 2024 acceptance.) In my convention address in November, I will share my plans going forward for the Mission Support Office and our continuing support for the five-year blueprint and mission priorities I laid out last year. Judy, Lola, and Toni have all been instrumental in this work so far and losing their talents and passion will be painful. I don’t pretend otherwise.
For the past eight weeks, I have grappled with the budget, carefully examining the financials and trends of Diocesan Council, Trustee, and Camp Arrowhead dating back to 2013. If an alternative path were available, I would have readily and gladly pursued it.
I encourage you to get in touch with Toni, Lola, and Judy to express your gratitude for their ministry and gifts. Each one is, and has been, a blessing to me, and I grieve already the loss of them on staff.
+Kevin
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