The recent visit to the Diocese of Central Ecuador has given members of Executive Council hope that the reconstitution of the Diocese of San Joaquin will be successful, according to a message made public at the conclusion of the council’s Feb. 11-14 meeting in Quito.
 
The previous Bishop of Central Ecuador was deposed in 2006 for failure to provide adequate financial information over the course of a number of years. Subsequently the diocese learned that title to many of its assets–including the cathedral, the diocesan office building and a school‑were listed as personal property of the former bishop. During the meeting in Ecuador council members toured a number of diocesan outreach ministry projects and congregations.
 
“We are gratified to see the rebirth of hope for the people of this diocese, which has emerged revitalized from the necessary inhibition and deposition of its bishop and a restructuring of the diocese under the leadership of Bishop Wilfredo Ramos-Orench, appointed by the House of Bishops as provisional Bishop,” council said.
 
“This is a new and unfamiliar landscape for all of us,” council members said in a section of the letter referring to Episcopalians in the Diocese of San Joaquin. “We stand with you and commit ourselves to provide pastoral care, to aid in reorganization, and to support legal actions necessary to retain the assets of the diocese for ministry. We will hold clergy leaders accountable to their vows to uphold the doctrine, discipline and worship of this church, and lay leadership accountable to the fiduciary responsibilities of the offices they hold. Up to $500,000 of income from trust funds will be made available in the calendar year 2008 to support the mission work of the Diocese of San Joaquin and similarly situated dioceses.”
 
In addition to private discussion of the situation in the Diocese of San Joaquin, council also reviewed last year’s financial figures and approved a budget for the coming year.
 
“Regarding the financial health of The Episcopal Church, we learned that in a time of economic recession, Episcopalians have demonstrated a renewed commitment to stewardship with an anticipated increase in diocesan commitments and an excess of resources over expenses for 2007,” the council letter stated.
 
Previous 2007 budget estimates anticipated a slight deficit, but Kurt Barnes, treasurer, reported that the year ended with a surplus of slightly more than $1 million. This was due to higher than anticipated contributions from the dioceses and gifts from individuals; higher interest rates on savings and decreased staff expenses by not filling all vacant positions, he said. A larger than expected expense was $ 1.3 million for legal expenses and legal assistance for dioceses, Mr. Barnes added.
 
The 2008 budget anticipates that more dioceses will pay their full 22 percent asking to the program budget of General Convention than did in 2007. Staff reorganization and the decentralization away from the Episcopal Church Center headquarters in New York City will reduce employee costs, although there will be one time start up expenses for each of the five new regional offices, and severance expenses for employees not being retained, which have been accounted for in the proposed budget.
 
Cheryl M. Wetzel and Steve Waring

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