They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. All the believers were together and had everything in common . . .[and] they gave to anyone as he had need. (Acts 2:42, 44-45)
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About the 2007 Reaching Out Budget Process

Overview

At the 99th Diocesan Council in 2003, the Bishop of West Texas appointed a 24-member Task Force to "examine the current process for creating the annual diocesan operating budget."

The Task Force conducted surveys, did personal interviews, met regularly, met with the diocesan staff and the diocesan Executive Board, and visited other dioceses to determine the best ways to fulfill their mandate. They presented their results at the 101st Diocesan Council in February 2005 with resolutions that resulted in:

  • Reduction of the apportionments for the 92 churches of the diocese from a range of 12 to 22 percent to a range of 10 to 18 percent of a congregation's income.
  • Establishment of a method whereby congregations of the diocese have more input into the building of the diocesan budget.

This process, which was implemented for the 2006 budget, is under the direction of the diocesan Executive Board and the Mission Engagement Committee.

The combined diocesan budget, which is anticipated to be $3,570,538 for 2007, has been segmented into two parts

  • The Operating Budget of about $2,463,564*, which includes support for the bishops' offices, the ordained ministry, operations at the diocesan center, and diocesan staff salaries.
  • The Reaching Out Budget of about $1,106,974, which includes the programs and ministries of the diocese.

The Process

  1. Department chairs have carefully developed their budget requests for 2007. Together their requests amounted to $1,396,682, which is $289,708 more than the anticipated income for 2007.
  2. The Diocesan Executive Board has reviewed the department requests and refined some of them. Requests now amount to $1,240,682, which is $133,708 more than anticipated income for 2007.
  3. Requests with supporting information have been posted to the website at http://www.council-dwtx.org and will be e-mailed to every vestry and bishop's committee member in the diocese, along with all parochial clergy.
  4. Each vestry or bishop's committee will determine how it will support the diocesan corporate ministry through its apportionment.
  5. The Executive Board will receive the results of the congregational input, making adjustments as necessary to provide the diocese with a realistic budget that does not exceed anticipated income.
  6. The 103rd Diocesan Council meeting in Corpus Christi in 2007 will adopt the final budget.

*These figures, which are determined by apportionment income and other income, will be finalized and submitted to the Diocesan Executive Board by October 1, 2006.

Mission Engagement Committee
Ted Burkhart, chair
Richard Mosty, vice-chair
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