What Is Fair Share and Where Does It Go?
An Update

Fair Share is the name of the portion of each church’s income that we are asked to give to the diocese each month, in line with the Episcopal Church being a missionary society. 

Most of the money we send is used for mission and ministry in our area – including support for diocesan staff and programs and for the mission churches that are not yet self-supporting. In this context, the Fair Share supports 90% of the diocesan budget.  A portion of the money is sent to the national church, where it’s used to support mission and ministry, as well as other outreach charities across the country and around the world. Special ministries each have a slice too, including the Peace and Justice Commission, Jail Chaplaincy Ministries, the Restorative Justice Commission, and the Department of Ministry in Higher Education.

For the year 2006 current shares in our diocese were calculated at 18% of normal operating income. However, there have been changes for 2007 that will benefit St; Philip’s.  The new calculation for fair share will be 10% of the first $178,000 of our NDBI, and 20% of everything over $178,000. NDBI is roughly defined as plate and pledge contributions, plus any other income that becomes part of our operating budget.  Since we are currently in the realm of “lower income” status, this will mean our Fair Share contributions will be reduced.

             Annie Warr, Bishop’s Committee

Stewardship Report

As the stewardship representative for the Bishop’s Committee, I want to take this opportunity to express special thanks to our dedicated pledging membership.  Our 2006 commitment income is expected to reach 99% of what was actually pledged and, as of press time, 2007 pledges and special pledges have totaled in excess of $124,000.00.

I want to also take this time to express the importance of pledging.  St. Philip’s builds its yearly budget based on the commitment of its congregation.  Weekly plate contribution is definitely appreciated.  However, if you’re a regular contributing member of our congregation, it helps the Bishop’s Committee to know through a pledge commitment what can be budgeted and planned for in areas such as church programs and building maintenance and repairs.  As such, St. Philip’s still needs to achieve a commitment of about $35,000.00 more in pledges for 2007 in order to meet our projected budgetary needs.  Thankfully, because of increased income from our rental units, we will be able to meet our minimum parish ministry goals.  Included in our greater goal is our ability to catch up on our Fair Share contribution to the diocese.  Because of past financial short falls we are behind in Fair Share contribution due to a number of months of not being able to contribute followed by several months of only being able to give a portion of our commitment.  If we want to become a parish and vote for our diocese’s next bishop, we need to be caught up in our Fair Share commitment.

1. Why is Fair Share important?  Because it is how the National Episcopal Church supports its important ministries that help Christian programs both in the United States and around the world.  The Fair Share process is a way for members to confidently and securely contribute to causes of help and aid.

2. Why is becoming a parish important?  Parish status give us the independence to have more direct say in our church operation and make us more influential in diocesan matters.

3. Why is being able to vote for our next diocesan bishop important?  I believe this is self explanatory.  Being able to vote on our next bishop allows St. Philip’s to have influence on the direction of the diocese.

So in closing I challenge this congregation to meet our pledge goal in order to become a parish and to vote for our new bishop.  I ask that we as individual congregants of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church look within ourselves and make a pledge, or if you already have pledged, see if you can find a way to increase your pledge.

Thank You and God bless!
             David Sanguinetti, Bishop’s Committee

Summary of Budget 2007