By Thomas FergusonThere are two oft-repeated statements in a budgeting process. One is that budgets are “outlines” rather than strict spending plans: whether in a parish, or a diocese, or a seminary, we adopt budgets that pledge to spend money that we do not yet have. We trust that pledges, or tuition, or assessments will come in as planned. Another is that budgets reveal … [Read more...] about The Message of the Mission
Orderly Counsel
General Convention’s Roles
By Timothy E. KimbroughAny reflection on the role and function of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church places one in the deep end of the pool. The discussion, at times conflicted and complicated, is already well developed. Someone will want to review the convention’s authority, another its mission. Another will want to identify the convention by its governance. Yet … [Read more...] about General Convention’s Roles
Orderly Counsel
Another General Convention of the Episcopal Church is upon us — meeting this July in Indianapolis — and provides an opportunity again to reason about the purpose, protocol, and theology of church government. An irreducible aspect of Anglican life is the reality of provincial autonomy, that is, self-government among the member churches of the Communion. And within our churches … [Read more...] about Orderly Counsel