The House of Bishops voted to reconsider its endorsement of Resolution A069: Funding the Mission Funding Office. At the close of the business session today during General Convention in Anaheim, the Rt. Rev. Robert C. Johnson, retired Bishop of Western North Carolina, asked the house to reconsider its July 9 vote endorsing the multi-year $5 million program to create a major fund development program for The Episcopal Church.
The Rt. Rev. John W. Howe, Bishop of Central Florida, added that there had been no debate when the resolution was adopted the previous day. Prudence required that a “massive fundraising project needed some discussion.”
Herald, read the accusation! said the King.
On this the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, and then unrolled the parchment scroll, and read as follows:–
The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts,
All on a summer day:
The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts,
And took them quite away!
Consider your verdict, the King said to the jury.
Not yet, not yet! the Rabbit hastily interrupted. There’s a great deal to come before that!
[i]Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 12[/i]
I’ve seen this play out on a parish, diocesan, and national level, and I always find it very interesting how in harder economic times, “Missions” and “Evangelism” funding are the first items on the budgetary chopping block.
In my line of thinking, that should be the last item on the chopping block.