Minutes of the
Committee on
Program and Budget
April 10, 2014
Members Present:
Gillian Barr, Greg deGroot, Linda Grenz, Ted Hallenbeck, Bishop
Knisely, David Lucey, Jim Rezendes, Ann Rheault, Peter Tierney, Ron Turnbull
Meeting was called to order at 10:35 am.
Jonathan Daniels House
(JDH) Update
JDH Executive Director Gillian Barr presented some background
and updated the committee on the progress of this newly-formed diocesan
ministry. Partnering with the
Episcopal Service Corps (ESC) was seen as the best way to help the diocese
witness in South Providence, and JDH gained approval as an ESC site in late
September 2013. Gillian moved to
RI in mid-January 2014.
JDH will welcome four interns in August 2014 and hopes to grow
to six-to-eight interns in subsequent years. Interns will work 35 hours/week for various non-profits, and
spend eight-to-ten hours/week with Gillian in spiritual discernment to see
where God might be calling them in the future. JDH is still seeking internship sites, which has proved to
be challenging, since it costs around $14,700 to host an intern for 10 months,
and most of these non-profit agencies are strapped for cash. For example, the Institute for
Non-Violence would be a perfect work site, but has no money to pay an intern.
Interns will live a common life in a four-bedroom house,
undergoing hands-on formation while working in a variety of ministries. If only two interns are accepted into
the program, it would be necessary to increase funding to accommodate the fixed
costs. The Providence Planning
Dept. might be willing to let JDH use one of the houses in its inventory. If the diocese decides to buy a house,
the Property Committee could help with renovations.
New Startup Programs in
the Diocese
Church of the Advent
in Coventry is a new congregation directed towards people with autism and
learning disabilities, offering them and their families appropriate worship and
support. The autism community is
very excited since there’s not much in the diocese for them now; Mary Ann Mello
and Dennis Bucco are the two lead priests. So as not to be overwhelmed by a huge turnout on Day 1,
Dennis Bucco will identify three or four families and invite them to attend
services so that clergy might gain experience with this type of congregation. Two other experienced churches are
serving as mentors.
The house on the property is being renovated and will be
rented to a property manager who will act as a community liaison. Autism agencies are interested in doing
something there (like play therapy), which could provide modest rental income. There’s also the possibility of a jobs-training
site for autistic adults, but they are scrambling for federal dollars. Currently there is no need for a sexton
- diocesan maintenance staff can continue to help out periodically. If many groups end up using the
property, maintenance staff could be hired. The diocese does not have $30-50K to put into the property,
but it’s hoped that rental income from the house and from groups using the facility
will subsidize operations costs.
Church Beyond the Walls
Edmund Harris, who was heading up this ministry, is leaving Rhode
Island. The 2014 budget shows $20K
in income and a net loss of $20K.
The original plan was that Epiphany would cover 25 percent of the cost
and four or five other churches would step up, but so far no other churches
have volunteered as partners. Even
if partner churches did come forward, it might be difficult for them to come up
with more than $5K each, since many churches are already operating in deficit
budgets. In addition, some
congregations are not welcoming this ministry.
Looking at the 2015 budget, the clergy compensation expense could
be eliminated if supply clergy helped out and donated their time. Some retired clergy are committed to
this ministry and might be willing to volunteer. The bishop would like to
rethink the needs of this ministry with a steering committee, since Church
Beyond the Walls is in a different place now. We might model it on the Boston Cathedral system, which is
now a 501c3 independent non-profit.
New Church
This startup church has proven very popular, with typical
attendance around 85. It has a
camp ethos and doesn’t need much money; supporters don’t want it
institutionalized – they want to work and worship, not serve on
committees. They will do their own
sexton work and will require little support. It’s a place to experiment, like a
pop-up church.
Next Meeting: Thursday,
May 18, 2014 @ 10:30 a.m. in the Higgins Room.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Kane Rheault
