Asking Task Force Questionnaire
On June 10th the Task Force sent a letter to Senior Warden’s asking for Vestry input on three questions. Now the Askings Task Force is seeking your thoughts and comments regarding the asking process within the Diocese. This is an opportunity for you to be a part of our discussion and decision process. Upon conclusion of our analysis we will provide recommendations through the Bishop to the Diocesan Council.
Please take time to review and submit your comments on one or all of the below questions:
- Should the Diocesan Asking (assessment) be a dollar pledge determined by the congregation or percentage pledge amount established by the Diocese?
- Should the Diocese budget for community outreach or leave this only to parishes?
- Should a congregation’s Normal Operating Income (from the Parochial Report) be reduced by the amount that a congregation expends annually for budgeted outreach when computing the Diocesan assessment for Asking?
- Should the amount a congregation spends on clergy and lay health insurance be deducted from total operating income prior to calculation of the Diocesan Asking?
- Is it appropriate to take into consideration demographic changes in a congregation and/or its surrounding neighborhood from which it draws that affect stewardship or fundraising efforts when calculating the Diocesan Asking?
- Should the Diocese offer financial management resources/consulting to churches who, upon request, need counsel on whether to pay the asking instead of another budget item that seems critical to that parish – especially if the choice is clearly one or the other?
- The Diocese has had a Visiting Team support program for Churches having financial troubles; does this process need any further appeal mechanisms for congregations who are suffering financial problems?
- What changes would you make, if any, to the current Diocesan Askings (assessment) process?
Please feel free to contact a member of the Asking Task Force for clarification or additional comment/suggestions. Thank you for taking the time – greatly appreciated
At St. Stephen’s we had already had our last Vestry meeting until fall when we received the request for Vestry feedback. What is your deadline for feedback?
Feedback from St. Stephen’s on the questions posed:
1. Should the Diocesan Asking (assessment) be a dollar pledge determined by the congregation or percentage pledge amount established by the Diocese?
The amount should not be left to the congregation’s discretion, but should be determined by the percentage pledge amount determined by the Diocese. We suggest that amount be based on the congregation budget from the previous year, rather than from 2 years previous.
2. Should the Diocese budget for community outreach or leave this only to parishes?
Community outreach should be left to the parishes. The closer the source, the more meaningful to the individuals in the congregation.
3. Should a congregation’s Normal Operating Income (from the Parochial Report) be reduced by the amount that a congregation expends annually for budgeted outreach when computing the Diocesan assessment for Asking?
We believe that outreach should be a visible line item on congregation budgets, but that congregations should not be paying “asking fees” on their outreach efforts. At the same time, we believe the word “outreach” should be clearly defined). Possibly a “cap” should be established for outreach that is not assessed.
4. Should the amount a congregation spends on clergy and lay health insurance be deducted from total operating income prior to calculation of the Diocesan Asking?
No.
5. Is it appropriate to take into consideration demographic changes in a congregation and/or its surrounding neighborhood from which it draws that affect stewardship or fundraising efforts when calculating the Diocesan Asking?
6. Should the Diocese offer financial management resources/consulting to churches who, upon request, need counsel on whether to pay the asking instead of another budget item that seems critical to that parish – especially if the choice is clearly one or the other?
7. The Diocese has had a Visiting Team support program for Churches having financial troubles; does this process need any further appeal mechanisms for congregations who are suffering financial problems?
We believe 5,6 and 7 are all related. Simply put, the Visiting Team needs to have in place a clearly defined policy for appeals.
8. What changes would you make, if any, to the current Diocesan Askings (assessment) process?
We suggest that a congregation’s asking be assessed closer to the budget year on which it is established (1 year instead of 2). We wonder if a rolling average may have advantages.
Clarify: How does credit for permanent improvements to the physical plant affect asking?
Jaki: Thanks for the response. Our Committee meets this weekend and your comments will be shared. Ted