West Virginia had the honor of kicking off the fall diocesan convention season. You can find all the convention info here.
On one level most of the proposed resolutions aren’t too controversial. Nothing dramatic re: Same-Sex Blessings. Nothing about the Windsor Process, the Tanzania Communique or the Crisis in the Communion. Nothing about voting to leave TEC.
But, these resolutions are not exactly “Yawn-worthy” either. Take a close look. Resolutions are here.
How about Resolution 4 which starts out:
Concerning: Deletion of Clergy Minimum Compensation
WHEREAS, many churches in West Virginia are struggling with finances causing the closing or clustering of churches.
WHEREAS, in the Diocese many churches have lost almost 50% of their congregations over the last many years exacerbating this problem.
Lost 50% of their congregations?!?! Um, but, I thought our presiding bishop has said that TEC and its dioceses and parishes are all healthy and thriving.
Then there’s Resolution 9 on the Diocese’s giving to 815 which begins:
Concerning: Remitting Full Amount of National Church Assessment in Four Years
WHEREAS, In Article I of its Constitution, the Diocese of west Virginia accedes to the Constitution and Canons of the National Episcopal Church of the USA, and
WHEREAS, In various Canons the National Church, called the General Convention, mandates the payment of an assessment, also called “asking,” of a certain percentage sum of the income of each Diocese to support the National Church, and
WHEREAS, In 2007, and for some years prior, the Diocese of West Virginia has forwarded half or less than half of its assessment (asking) to the General Convention, and it proposes to submit only approximately 45.2% of the asking in its draft budget for 2008,
It’s interesting of course to see the fact that WV (a “reappraising” diocese) hasn’t been able to meet its full assessment for the National Church. Yet another sign that perhaps some dioceses are not as “healthy and vital” as 815 would like folks to believe. But even more interesting to this elf…. note the first line of the resolution: WHEREAS, In Article I of its Constitution, the Diocese of west Virginia accedes to the Constitution and Canons of the National Episcopal Church of the USA
Very interesting that. In fact one will note that in every resolution submitted by this individual, one Robert DuBose, that phrase appears. We wonder whose idea THAT was/is?
Readers, can you keep your eyes open for similar phrases about Acession to TEC’s Constitution and Canons in all of your diocesan resolutions? This elf has a hunch there is going to be a LOT of that language floating around. Thanks! Looking like it could be a very long and UNdull convention season. Stay tuned.
I can assure you that the proposer of the resolutions quoted had only local matters in mind. The issue is about tiny rural congregations and clusters and how to staff them and whether non-seminary trained clergy should be eligible to apply for “paying” positions. Diocesan regulations and the canonical revisions abolishing Canon 9 clergy haven’t yet come together. Constitutional and Canonical revision is an on-going process, and didn’t address the property issue at all. That none of the hot button issues were raised indicates local self-absorption rather than much else. I doubt whether “re-appraiser” or any other convenient herding label accurately describes the diocese as a whole or most of its congregations. The spirit at Convention was good if subdued, and the only tensions were about purely parish pump issues. That may seem odd, but West Virginia is hardly a front line diocese!
Thanks WVparson. I can certainly understand the local focus given the challenges of small parishes and the need to cluster. And that local emphasis is not a bad thing at all.
I just found the repeated reiteration of the accession clause quite striking given the current context. But yes, I probably read too much into it…
WVparson,
If you can answer I have a question. 815 “asked” for what they had to know would be 20% of the diocesan budget in a diocese which a quick look at the member/ASA statistics clearly shows has been devastated over the last decade. Since it’s clear from the resolution that WV has been giving half or less of what’s been asked for years do you think that 815 has simply been asking for way too much in order to get what they really expect from WV?
I haven’ lived back home in nearly 10 years and was a Baptist there, but:
1. I think “re-appraiser” is an exageration, certainly on the diocesan level. Even the most liberal congregations are fairly mild.
2. Do you not understand the population shifts occuring within the state? The gradual depopulation of hundreds of small coal towns, and even the capital city (population has dipped by nearly 40% since the 1960 census) has made it very difficult for any parish to maintain membership. I know plenty of Baptist (American, Southern, Independent/Fundamental) congregations that are not doing any better.
3. A couple of years ago there was a similar situation in a move to disaffiliate the WV Baptist Convention from the American Baptist Churches. It failed. Why? Because the ministers and lay delegates had the good sense to recognize that their ministries and 150 years of dependent relationships with colleges and other churches were enhanced by ABC/USA, in spite of similar problems in that denomination. And if you think the WVBC is reappraiser, you need your daggone head examined. I imagine DioWV is facing a similar situation. Keep in mind, this is a diocese with about 60 parishes and no Cathedral operating out of an office on Virginia St. in Charleston, if I understand the situation correctly.
Elves, ya need to think a little more carefully before you post.
Randall
Not sure if anyone will check back on this thread, but just in case, to respond to Randall:
1) Firstly, the constructive criticism is appreciated. I’ll try to tone down the skepticism and commentary on any future diocesan convention posts.
2) However, I wasn’t really blaming the decline in ECUSA parishes on ECUSA politics. I do understand there are real demographic and economic issues in various states which make it hard to support viable parishes. The decline in ECUSA is occurring for lots of reasons. And yet, in the face of such serious decline in many dioceses (for whatever reason), all 815 and the Presiding Bishop can seem to say is that “The Episcopal Church is healthy and thriving.”
And yet, I tend to think that closer analysis will show that decline and serious financial challenges are the norm in a majority of dioceses. The first step towards addressing the problems is admitting the problems. Many dioceses, including WV are doing just that. However I don’t think 815’s attitude is helping. There the mode seems to be to minimize and deny the problems being faced by dozens of dioceses.