Bishop of Vermont says diocese faces uncertain future
by David Virtue, Virtueonline:
In what might become the inevitable story of most dioceses in The Episcopal Church, the bishop of Vermont, Shannon MacVean-Brown, wrote in a letter to the diocese, that after three years in the job, an independent financial assessment of the diocese revealed a “financial cliff is on the horizon.”
“The bishop envisioned financial shortfalls early on in her ministry, and we can reaffirm that there is, in fact, trouble ahead, likely in the first quarter of 2023, where, without intervention, expenditures will far exceed revenues,” said the auditor.
“The elected leaders of the diocese and I are taking immediate steps to restrict spending. We are leaving a vacant staff position unfilled, seeking assessment relief from the Episcopal Church, and repurposing previously restricted funds for operating expenses,” said Shannon.
“We are also working actively to create a single diocesan finance committee that will seek to overcome the barriers created by what the financial assessment called a “staggering number of finance-related committees and subcommittees” that “cloud the financial picture and lead to confusion for the stakeholders … and stymie decision making.”
Shannon opined that it was not just cost-cutting and streamlining alone, but cutting expenditures would not be enough to survive on current revenues, “which are declining as our congregations grow smaller and older. We have virtually no capacity for congregational support, social justice ministry, care of creation programs, or participation in the wider Episcopal Church–all things that the people of the diocese treasure and that are essential to God’s mission in Vermont.”
Cost-cutting is only a short-term survival strategy that will help us build a bridge to our new future, she said. “Vacant staff positions would be left unfilled, seeking assessment relief from the Episcopal Church, and repurposing previously restricted funds for operating expenses.”
“I have also begun conversations with my colleagues in the Dioceses of New Hampshire and Maine about how our three dioceses might work together collaboratively, building shared capacity for both ministry and administration. Across the church, dioceses are realizing significant cost savings by sharing bishops and staff while retaining independent identities and governance.”
Here are the facts about the diocese.
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