I want to offer here some data I shared with the Diocesan Council in my report last Friday. The chart above shows the income of the Diocese of Georgia compared to 10% of the congregations' income. This demonstrates how the churches of the Diocese paid more than 10% even a decade ago. At that time, the Diocesan Council set the asking at more than 20% and only two congregations paid the full asking. In 2004, the Council approved a plan to divide the congregations into four quartiles based on revenue. Council set the asking rate for the 25% of congregations with the lowest revenue at 10%, the next quartile at 12.5%, the next at 15%, with the churches with the top 25% of revenue set at a rate of 17.5% Compliance with the asking improved, but remained low.

On taking office, Bishop Benhase asked Diocesan Council to look to move the rate to 10% for all congregations and to consider a process to move all congregations toward actually giving at this rate. The result was a resolution passed by convention in 2011 that accomplished both of these goals in setting a process for Diocesan Council to approve appeals and for all those not on appeal to pay the full tithe.

The good news is  the plan succeeded and the actual income of the Diocese from congregations is very close to 10% of the total income to our churches. The long term effect is that the diocesan income is now, appropriately connected to congregation income. This means that no rapid rises are anticipated. We can now project diocesan income to remain stable, holding close to inflation, unless unusual growth occurs.

What this data means

I share this data to show the need for extra budgetary money if we want to do extraordinary work for the Gospel. For example, when the diocesan income from congregations was more than $2 million in today's dollars, starting new churches from the diocesan budget took careful management, but was possible. That sort of new initiative is not possible when the income drops by a half million dollars, as occurred during these years.I share this data to show the need for extra budgetary money if we want to do extraordinary work for the Gospel. For example, when the diocesan income from congregations was more than $2 million in today's dollars, starting new churches from the diocesan budget took careful management, but was possible. That sort of new initiative is not possible when the income drops by a half million dollars, as occurred during these years.

The good news is that the solution is well underway with the Campaign for Congregational Development. Five years ago, we began the work to meet the challenges we now face. The work is already underway across the Diocese. For example, we are taking advantages of opportunities for growth in Rincon and Cordele, starting exciting new ministries like the Oak Street Mission in Thomasville, and establishing youth outreach in Darien. All are possible because of the work to raise extra-budgetary funds for this extraordinary work.

None of this is a surprise to your diocesan staff. We lowered the diocesan asking knowing it would cut the diocesan budget and hold the budget down close to rising with inflation. This was the right call to keep more money close to home in your congregation. I just wanted to share that we now seem to have arrived at the new equilibrium and to give you some sense of what that means for our mission and ministry.

The Diocesan office looks forward to maintaining an open dialog and partnership to tackle these ongoing mission needs of the broader Diocese of Georgia. How has the Campaign or shift in the budget process impacted your community? Tell us your stories and what you are excited about engaging future campaigns and efforts to spread the ministry of the Gospel further.

The Rev. Canon Frank Logue, Canon to the Ordinary