“Has the Diocese of Albany Already Left the Episcopal Church?”

No, but...

            The Albany Via Media website has carried this headline and the financial data that inspired it for many months. Those data show that since 2003, Albany has failed to meet either the national church’s assessment or its own, much smaller, pledge. Since 2004, the diocese has not even made a pledge to TEC, though it has continued to contribute about 40% of its annual assessment.

            Does this mean that Albany has left the Episcopal Church or plans to do so? No, but it does point to a serious problem. Since 2003, using Albany’s “parish choice”[1] option, many parishes have withheld some or all of their support for the national Church, redirecting their funds  to diocesan programs. There is no way to be sure how many parishes are playing this “money card” or what sorts of parishes are doing so (large or small, urban or rural?), but the level of diocesan support for TEC – about 40% – indicates that the tactic is popular.

            And it is wrong. In a properly functioning organization, each level contributes to the financial needs of the next higher level. Thus you and I  pledge a fixed weekly amount to our parish. The parish agrees in turn to support the Diocese of Albany, and Albany makes a similar commitment to the national Church. These pledges are both ethical and practical: They reflect our shared belief that those who benefit from the Church should support it. They also meet the need for financial officers at each level to know how much money they will have to meet the year’s expenses.

            Friends who have been in the Diocese of Albany far longer than I recall when paying its assessment to the national Church was a top priority. Because “parish choice” has been a windfall for the Diocese, it would be painful to revert to that tradition. However our new Bishop should, at the very least, remind clergy and laity alike that it is no more moral to stiff the Episcopal Church than it would be to refuse to pay the diocesan assessment.

            We are all Episcopalians. Let’s act like it!

            [1] “Parishes are free to designate up to 21% of their assessments to a selection of Diocesan ministries and the National Church. All monies designated for the National Church are scrupulously forwarded to the Episcopal Church Center in New York City.” (Letter from Clark Curtis to the writer, 25 April 2007)

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Money from the diocese of Albany to the National church (ESUSA)

 

2003

2004

2005

 2006 2007

 

Diocesan Assessment (by ECUSA) 

  

$251,773*

$279,794*

$281,529*

 $279,720* $ *

 

Diocesan Pledge (by the Diocese of Albany)

 

 

$135,215

 

$128,418

No Diocesan Covenant Commitment Form has been received by ‘815’

 No Diocesan Covenant Commitment Form has been received by ‘815’ As of Jan. 31, 2007, No Diocesan Covenant Commitment Form has been received by ‘815’

 

Pledge, as a fraction of assessment:

 

54%

46%

0%

 0 %  

 

Diocesan Payment:

 

$132,424 (as of end of Dec.)

$95,880

$114,946.40

 $106,042
(in 2006)		  

Payment, as a fraction of
Diocesan "pledge":
 		 98% 75% ? ?  

 

Payment, as a fraction of Diocesan apportionment

 

52%

34%

 

41%

 

 40%  

*  based on assessments - current year, assessments - prior year, endowment dividends-restricted, and endowment dividends-unrestricted of the Diocese of Albany's Operations Budget as reported at Diocesan conventions.

Note:  The "Diocesan Assessment (by ECUSA)" is derived from the "Diocesan Covenant Commitment Form" which the dioceses fill out and return to ECUSA every year, kind of like the information that each parish supplies to the diocese, and which is the basis of the diocese's assessment to each parish. The last form the the Diocese of Albany sent in to ECUSA was dated 12/5/03 for the year 2004. The form was not filled out in it's entirety.  You can see a copy of the form in PDF format by clicking here: download form.

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