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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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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Reaching Out Budget 2007 Workshops will Assist in Decision MakingThree Reaching Out Budget Workshops will be held during September to give vestry and bishop's committee members an opportunity to ask questions and get clarification about the 2007 Reaching Out Budget. Congregations must tell the diocesan Executive Board by November 1 how they would like their apportionments distributed among the 18 Reaching Out ministries. Those decisions will help the Executive Board decide how to disperse approximately $1,106,974 among the Reaching Out requests, which amount to $1,240,682, or $133,708 more than is available. Workshops will be held Saturday, Sept.9 at St. Bartholomew's, Corpus Christi, and Saturday, Sept. 16 at St. Thomas, San Antonio, and St. Alban's, Harlingen. Gathering time from 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. All three will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It is important that each congregation in the diocese send at least one representative to a workshop; representatives will receive their church's official "Congregation Reaching Out Allocation for 2007" form; and they can also relay pertinent information to their vestries or bishop's committees. But first register representatives from your church to attend one of the workshops. There is no fee for this event, but your registration is necessary to prepare seating, handouts, and refreshments.
Lillibridge to Address Issues at WorkshopsAs part of the Reaching Out Budget workshops, Bishop Lillibridge will answer questions regarding General Convention as well as discuss the state of The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion, and the Diocese of West Texas. In addition, he will reflect on the upcoming gathering of Windsor-supporting bishops at Camp Allen from September 19-22, convened by Bishop Wimberly of Texas. New Technology to Roll Out at September 16 WorkshopParticipants at the September 16 workshops in San Antonio and the Valley will meet as one group -- if all goes according to plan -- through the use of video conferencing technology. Bishop Lillibridge will lead the San Antonio meeting, Bishop Reed will lead the Valley meeting, and everyone in attendance will be able to see and hear each other. The effort is being put together by the new diocesan Information Technology committee and is the first use of this technology in the diocese. The success of this workshop could lead to more meetings in which those at far distances can be involved without having to drive several hours.
Have you heard about CUPA?
The Mission and Ministry Task Force has spent over two years fulfilling the mandate to "examine the current process for creating the annual diocesan operating budget." That time was filled with Communication and increased Understanding between task force members, clergy, vestry and bishop's committee members, Executive Board members and diocesan staff. The results were presented at the 101st Council in February 2005 with resolutions that resulted in:
Under the second year's budgeting method we begin the Participation phase with the distribution of the daily e-mails, one for each line item in the Reaching Out budget, to all vestry and bishop's committee members in mid-July. Your Participation is now needed at the upcoming workshops. Then each vestry or bishop's committee will Participate by completing a budget allocation form - one per church - delineating how they wish to support diocesan ministries. |
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