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Dear Friends in Christ,
The proposed 2010 – 2012 Draft Budget for the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i has been posted to the diocesan web site [here]. The Diocesan Council has worked hard for most of the year, in conjunction with commission and project chairs, and staff from the Office of the Bishop, to produce a budget based on the goals of the Strategic Plan as its guiding principles, seeking to further the mission and ministry of all of us.
2009 has been a dynamic and challenging year for Diocesan Council not only economically, but in downsizing and changing the working structure of the Council. The Departments of Council were reduced to three; Discipleship, Mission, and Stewardship. Project working groups were encouraged in order to address issues of ministry more quickly. Commissions with active members and ongoing activity continued. In light of the volatility of the economic situation and the reduction of investment income most of the year was devoted to lowering the 2009 budget. The 2009 budget was cut by approximately $257,000, namely cutting staff and reducing expenses from all three departments. This is in addition to reducing the assessment from 21% to 20% in 2009.Each Department prioritized the work of its commissions/projects, and focused on those that addressed their ministries locally. Opportunities to explore alternative resources to do the work of the diocese continue to be encouraged.
The budget is balanced – expenses do not exceed revenues. It is considerably smaller than 2008. The three-year budget anticipates the continued decline in our local economy until 2012.
Please study this document – both the numbers and the narratives that accompany each section. This will be excellent preparation for the regional pre-convention meetings at the end of this month. There you will have the opportunity to discuss with, and ask questions of members of, the Council. We have planned to have a representative from each of the Council Departments at each regional meeting.
Please remember that any change to the budget must be self-balancing: an increase in one area means a reduction in another. There is no additional income available.
All of us on the Diocesan Council look forward to meeting with you later this month. Afterwards, we will have one more Council meeting (September 19 th) to make any final adjustments to the budget (if necessary). That is the document that will go to the 41st Annual Meeting of Diocesan Convention in October.
Aloha,
Cecilia H. Fordham, Chair
Stewardship Department
Diocesan Council