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Annual Convention of the Diocese
of Bethlehem and held at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.
Bishop Anthony of Kajo-Keji may soon be with
us
[From Bishop Paul]
Bishop Anthony of Kajo-Keji has accepted my invitation to be
present with us in October at our Convention. We will obviously need to find
ways to make his presence celebrated at some additional central event that
more people can attend. However, in the mean time, we have again to pray
very hard: we have begun the visa application process, which is always iffy.
So please hold this application in your prayers until we hear from the
government.
2007's Summary:
The Diocese of Bethlehem Mission,
Ministry, and Proposed 2008 Budget, 2008 Assessments and Acceptances 2008
Salary Schedule
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The Mission and Ministry of the
Diocese of Bethlehem
The Mission Statement of the Diocese of Bethlehem…
”Live God’s love; tell what you
have seen and heard.”
The Mission Vision of the Diocese
of Bethlehem…
We seek to create communities of
faith where all God's people can deepen their relationship with Jesus. We
seek so to live that the Holy Spirit might use us to draw others to Christ.
We seek to welcome others to the fellowship of God's church. This vision
will lead us...
To proclaim the importance of our
life together in Christ.
To live lives of prayer, service,
and compassion,
as we work to build a world of
justice and peace.
To be open to change as the Holy
Spirit prompts us.
To celebrate our Anglican
identity.
The Mission Strategy and Budget
of the Diocese of Bethlehem…
Has been developed by the members
of the parishes of the Diocese who serve in Diocesan ministries and on
committees, commissions, and organizations. As they have discerned needs and
listened to the call of our Bishop and Convention, they have developed
ministries and programs to carry out God’s Mission in and through the
Diocese of Bethlehem.
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The 2008 Mission and Ministry
Budget
Salaries
Salaries of the Bishop and staff
of the Diocese include a 3% cost of living adjustment recommended by the
Personnel Committee.
Benefits
These include pension and
insurance for the Bishop and staff.
Financial Expenses
These include costs of the audit,
liability insurance for those who serve in Diocesan positions, and an
accrual for contingencies or emergencies.
Convention Expenses
These funds enable the people of
the Diocese to gather in Diocesan Convention and in the national church
General Convention, as well as providing for the Bishop’s attendance at the
House of Bishops and Lambeth meetings.
Office Expenses
These funds cover the equipment
and supplies for the ministry of the episcopate.
Communication Ministry
These funds provide for
communication within the Diocese and beyond. They include costs
related to our internet lists and
maintenance of the Diocesan website, www.diobeth.org.
Travel
These funds allow the Bishop and
staff to be in the parishes of the Diocese and support meetings with members
of the Diocese.
Diocesan House
These funds provide for the
maintenance and operation of the Diocesan House.
Other
The major costs involve health
insurance for retired clergy and widows. The Diocese provides the premium
coverage through the Medical Trust Group of the Church Pension Fund.
The Commission on Ministry
This Commission is mandated by
the National Canons and provided for in the Diocesan Canons.
A one-phrase summary of its work
might be: "to recruit, train, and support clergy and lay laborers to work in
the harvest fields of the Lord." The work of the Commission currently
supports and empowers the Diocesan Mission as individuals fill calls to
ordained ministry.
Treasurers’ Workshops
Provide training and support for
financial leaders of parishes.
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Ministry through the Department
of Mission Support
National Church
This is our participation in the
mission of The Episcopal Church USA and The Anglican
Communion beyond our Diocese. The
amount is arrived at by a formula based on the income of parishes and the
Diocese.
Pennsylvania Council of Churches
This represents our participation
in the ecumenical ministry in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Episcopal Appalachian Ministries
The mission of EAM is to serve as
a coordinator, network, and resource for Appalachian ministries, especially
to the Diocesan Appalachian Committees (in Bethlehem the Social Ministries
Committee serves as the Appalachian Committee). Diocesan committees work
with a variety of economic, justice, and service ministries, including ones
that affirm the history, cultural, and artistic values of Appalachian
people; offer assistance to provide employment opportunities; provide direct
services of food, clothing, shelter, and education; and serve as advocates
for the Appalachian community and issues that affect the region.
World Mission
This ministry provides education
and resources about the World Wide Anglican Communion and missionary work
around the world. The committee is also responsible for our Anglican partner
relationship with the Diocese of Kajo-Keji of the Episcopal Church of the
Sudan.
Social Ministry
The social ministry program works
primarily to support outreach ministries in local congregations. It also
works with the larger church social ministry programs like Episcopal
Appalachian ministries and the National Jubilee program.
Recovery Commission
The ministry of the Recovery
Commission of the Diocese of Bethlehem is to stand as a living witness to
the transforming power of God's unconditional caring for all persons. We are
also the ministry that provides resources to congregations, which educate
individuals, families, and loved ones about the process of recovery from
addiction and abuse.
Campus Ministry
Funds are used to support the
ministry of congregations with students, faculty, and staff of colleges and
universities. This is done primarily through Northeast Ministries in Higher
Education which ministers to students in many college campuses in our
Diocese.
Episcopal Ministries of the
Diocese of Bethlehem
New Bethany ministries is a
church-sponsored, non-profit corporation whose purpose is to organize and
operate housing and social ministries with related services in the
geographic area of the Diocese of Bethlehem for the care and relief of the
needy, poor, displaced, and other distressed persons.
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Ministry through the Department
of Parish Life
Renewal and Evangelism
Our ministry provides resources
and support to congregations, enabling them to live out their baptismal
covenant and, by word and example, to live out the Gospel mandate to spread
the Gospel to all people.
Congregational Development
The mission of the Committee is
threefold: to support developing congregations financially, to provide help
in long-range planning and visioning, and to foster the development of new
congregations.
Liturgy and Music
The Liturgy and Music Commission
seeks to enhance the liturgy and music in the parishes of the Diocese of
Bethlehem using the resources of The Book of Common Prayer, the
Hymnal 1982, and other authorized resources. Members of the Commission
are available, along with the Bishop, to clergy and musicians for the
intentional planning of parish liturgy. In addition, the Commission works
with the Bishop to plan various Diocesan liturgies throughout the year.
Stewardship
The Stewardship Ministry provides
consultants, programs, and resources that support stewardship in
congregations. Stewardship is “everything we do after we say, I believe.” It
is evangelism within our own house.
Planned Giving
The Ministry of Planned Giving is
to provide clergy and leadership of parishes and the Diocese with the means
and resources to encourage, educate, and assist the members of the parish in
“the prudent well-being of their families” (BCP, p. 445) from an estate and
gift planning perspective.
It is also to promote and
encourage planned and charitable gifts to the work of the church at the
parochial and Diocesan levels.
AWE - Children’s Ministries
Advocacy – Worship – Education.
This committee was formed from the former Christian Education Committee
(with Adult Education separated out) and focuses on worship as well as
advocacy and outreach for children.
Youth
The Youth Ministry of the Diocese
works to: bring youths together for fellowship and leadership in Christ;
engage youths for youth ministry; expand and organize youth ministry at
parish and Diocesan levels; train youths and adults in shared ministry and
outreach; give youths and adults opportunities for experiencing the joy of a
life in Christ; and assist parishes and regions in developing local
ministries with youth.
Income
The money enabling the ministry
of the Diocesan community comes, primarily, from the people and parishes of
the Diocese through an Assessment of 12% based on the Normal Operating
Income of parishes (2005 Parochial Report) and an Acceptance (a pledge). A
study conducted a few years ago by a committee of members of the Diocese
found that the ministries of the Diocese would be fully funded if parishes
made Acceptances of 3%.
Other income comes from trusts
and interest-bearing accounts. Some Trust income is designated for specific
purposes: Leonard Hall income is at the Bishop’s discretion. The Camp
Sterrett Fund supports Youth Ministry. The Bishop Warnecke Trust and the
Wilgus Trust funds health insurance for idows and widowers of clergy. The
Kingman Fund supports Diocesan House maintenance. The Expansion Fund
supports Congregational Development. In addition, income is derived from
administration fees for some trust funds. Talbot Hall is designated for the
Missioner to Children and Child Advocate’s salary and benefits.
Resolutions
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A
Resolution on the Budget of the
Diocese of Bethlehem
Be it Resolved,
That the Assessment Rate applied
to Line A, Normal Operating Income (NOI), of the 2006 Parochial Report shall
be 12% in 2008;
and be it further
Resolved,
That the Proposed Mission and
Ministry Budget of the Diocese as it is presented to the
Convention be adopted.
Presented by Diocesan Council
Explanation:
With this Resolution, Diocesan
Convention adopts a Diocesan Operating Budget for 2008. The
Income of the Budget represents a
continuation of a blend of Assessments and Acceptances, both
at rates identical to last year:
12% of Normal Operating Income (NOI, Line A of the Parochial
Report) for the Assessment and 3%
of NOI for the Acceptance.
B
Resolution of the Personnel
Committee
Regarding the 2008 Salary
Schedule
Be It Resolved,
that the Salary Schedule for Clergy for 2008, based upon a 3% Cost of Living
increase, be as follows,
and be it further
Resolved, That the same percentages apply to lay employees.
Parish Index
1-99
100-250
250-399
400 – above
Size of Parish
Small
Medium
Large
X-Large
Clergy Salary Range
$28,000.00 - $33,600.00
$31,000.00 - $45,000.00
$37,000.00 - $57,000.00
$50,000.00 - $81,000.00
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Be It Resolved,
That the Clergy Supply Schedule for 2008, be as follows, and be it further
Resolved, That Supply Clergy be reimbursed for travel at the current
IRS rate.
Number of Services
1 Sunday Service
2 Sunday Services
1 Saturday
Mid Week Service
$125.00
$150.00
$75.00
$50.00
C
Resolution on Office of Assistant
Bishop in the Diocese of Bethlehem
Be it Resolved,
That the position of Assistant
Bishop of Bethlehem is authorized by this Convention,
and be it further
Resolved, That the Diocesan Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Paul V. Marshall,
is hereby authorized to appoint The
Rt. Rev. John P. Croneberger to
the position of Assistant Bishop subject to the consent of the Standing
Committee.
Explanation:
Canon III.12.5 of the Episcopal
Church’s Canons provides for the creation of the position of Assistant
Bishop. The retirement of Bishop
Croneberger from the Diocese of Newark to this Diocese affords us the
opportunity to benefit from his
considerable experience, pastoral care, and wisdom. Born in Pottsville,
ordained in this Diocese, and
having served as rector of St. Mark’s in Dunmore (now Moscow) and St.
Mary’s in Reading, Bishop
Croneberger served as the Ninth Bishop of Newark from 2000 to 2007. The
honorarium for Bishop Croneberger
will be provided by income of the Leonard Hall Trust. The use of
this income belongs to the
discretion of the Diocesan Bishop.
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D
Resolution of the Evangelism
Commission
Be it Resolved, That this
136th Convention of the
Diocese of Bethlehem gives thanks to God for the many
people of this Diocese who have
prayed, worked, and trained for evangelism, and for those who have
shared the Good News of Jesus
Christ in many varied ways in the past year.
and be it further
Resolved, That this convention reiterates our commitment to a 'Plan
to Evangelize Northeast
Pennsylvania' passed at the 134th
Convention (2005) of this Diocese, understanding that evangelism is a
sign of Christian identity and
maturity that flows out of a life of thanksgiving to God, and be it further
Resolved,
That this convention encourages
individuals to commitment to daily personal prayer for
empowerment from Our Lord to
share the Good News, and be it further
Resolved,
That this convention calls on
members of this Diocese to renewed, continuing commitment to
the Holy Habits, and be it
further
Resolved,
That this convention urges each
person in the Diocese to discern his or her own “personal faith
statement” that can be shared
with another person and encourages each parish in the Diocese to include
this in their ministries of
Christian formation, and be it further
Resolved,
That this convention requests the
Bishop direct parishes to continue using the Prayer for
Evangelism in corporate worship
at least one Sunday of every month.
Rite I “Holy God, thy Son called
us to wrap the whole world in thy saving embrace. By thy
Holy Spirit, give us compassion,
purpose and energy to invite into thy Church those who do not yet know
the transforming power of thy
love. We ask this through Him who has brought us from darkness to light,
thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.”
. Rite II “Holy God, your Son
called us to wrap the whole world in your saving embrace. By
your Holy Spirit, give us
compassion, purpose and energy to invite into your Church those who do not
yet
know the transforming power of
your love. We ask this through Him who has brought us from darkness
to light, your Son, our Savior
Jesus Christ. Amen.”
and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention directs parishes to continue growing
vital evangelism communities where
the members may experience
mutual, prayerful support of one another, the clergy, and the parish and
further directs each parish to
report it's evangelism work to their congregations annual meetings, the
Evangelism commission and to the
Diocesan community through Diocesan Life, and other Diocesan
media, to encourage and celebrate
our work, and be it further
Resolved,
That the Convention directs that
the Archdeacon's visit prior to Episcopal visitations include a
discussion of the parish’s
evangelism ministries, and be it further
Resolved,
That the Convention directs the
Congregational Development Commission to continue to
evaluate grants in terms of
mission, and be it further
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Resolved,
That the Convention directs the
Evangelism Commission to develop a team of evangelism
consultants to work directly with
parishes that request prayerful and practical assistance in evangelism.
And further directs the
Evangelism Commission to report to the next convention progress towards the
recruitment, identification, and
training of an initial team and the process for utilizing this team by
parishes, and be it further
Resolved,
Directs the Evangelism Commission
and Stewardship Commission to continue to collaborate in
year-round prayer and training.
Explanation
1. On Evangelism Consultants:
The job of the consultants would be to a) Pray for, by name, the parish
clergy person(s) and parish lay
leadership person(s) with whom they will be working; b) Encourage
prayer as the foundation for
evangelism for parish vestries and evangelism committees; c) Teach the ‘nuts
and bolts’ of personal and
corporate evangelism and offer practical resources for year-round
evangelism.
2. On Stewardship and Evangelism
Commissions working together:
Just as stewardship is fueled by the
spirit of thanksgiving to God,
evangelism is fueled by thanksgiving for God’s loving self-revelation to us.
3. On Sharing Experiences,
Celebration, and Mutual Accountability:
While it is expected that every
parish will develop ministries of
evangelism specific to their own contexts, it is also true that the
ministries in each parish is also
the ministry of the whole Diocesan community. We seek a balance of idea
sharing, celebration of
successes, and accountability in a spirit of encouragement and support.
Submitted by the Evangelism
Commission
E
Resolution on Raising Weekly
Attendance
Be it Resolved,
That weekly attendance and active parishioners in the Diocese of Bethlehem
have been
flat for over a decade. This is
evident in the pews and in Parish and Diocesan financial health. One needs
to look no further than the
Diocesan staff reductions necessary in recent years. At a parish level,
giving
has not risen at the same level
as expenses resulting in program or staff cutbacks, or greater use of
endowment resources. The
financial health of the Diocese is in direct correlation to the financial
health of
its parishes. And the financial
health of a parish is in direct correlation to the growth or lack thereof in
active membership. At the same
time that our income is stagnant, we are faced with necessary significant
expense increases such as health
insurance and utilities. And, we have important new expenses that we
wish to fund such as the
Presiding Bishop’s call to us to meet the United Nations Millennium
Development Goals and Bishop
Paul’s New Hope initiative.
and be it further
Resolved, That a recruitment program be implemented at each parish
and supported by the Diocesan
Office to raise weekly attendance
10% per year to spread the Gospel and restore the Episcopal Church in
Northeast Pennsylvania to growth,
and be it further
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Resolved, To renew and measure the “Plan to Spread the Gospel in
Northeast Pennsylvania, September
2005” presented to Diocesan
Convention from Evangelism Commission in 2005. Each parish shall set up
a program for growth with a goal
to attain 10% annual growth in attendance. Each parish will report
quarterly to the Diocesan Office
both objective (the numbers) and subjective (anecdotal experience) data,
and be it further
Resolved,
That an oversight committee of at
least fifteen lay people will be headed by the Archdeacon.
Each person on the committee will
work with the Vestries of about four churches to understand the parish
situation, challenges, and
successes. The committee provides both a funnel up to Diocesan House on
program progress and a means of
sharing best practices among parishes. The committee shall meet at
least every other month. Each
member shall meet with assigned parishes at a minimum of once per
quarter, and be it further
Resolved, That the Diocesan Office is urged to devote the same level
of human resources to Diocesan
Parish Growth as other major
programs such as Stewardship, Planned Giving, and Outreach. This will
likely require changing some
staff assignments and priorities. This resolution supports this change
recognizing that without parish
growth, there will be ever fewer to offer stewardship, ever fewer to
provide gifts, and most
importantly, ever fewer to effect outreach.
Submitted by
Robert Phillips
Jean Montgomery
The Very Reverend Anthony Pompa
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