Dear Members and Friends of the Episcopal Church in Vermont,
This information was recently sent to a full spectrum of congregational and diocesan leaders. Please feel free to share it with others.
The Funding Our Mission Task Force has produced this Interim Report #2 to share the continuing work of the Task Force, along with its recommendations to the members of the Episcopal Church in Vermont. You will note as you make your way through the report that the Task Force has done considerable research and has had in-depth conversation regarding the various recommendations. Diocesan Council has been kept informed along the way and has taken action on many of the recommendations that fall within its authority. Other recommendations will be coming to Diocesan Convention from the Diocesan Council in the form of resolutions, most notably those related to the Diocesan Budget and Clergy Compensation.
As noted in the Report, there is still work for the Diocesan Council to complete and that work will take place at its upcoming September 24th meeting. We are making this report available to the wider membership of the Episcopal Church in Vermont now, in advance of that Diocesan Council meeting, should any of you have comments to share with Council members. You can feel free to comment on the report directly to me and I will make sure the Task Force and Council receive your comments.
The Task Force will be making a presentation at Convention and anticipates at least one more meeting after Convention.
I know you join me in thanking the Task Force for their substantial effort and I commend this report to your careful reading and consideration.
Please, also remember Ann and me in your prayers, along with the other bishops and spouses, as we participate in a week-long meeting of the House of Bishops (and spouses) in Detroit.
Faithfully,
+Thomas