PENNSYLVANIA: Christ Church, Philadelphia will not pay Episcopal Assessment

Posted by David Virtue
2010/11/5

Statement of Christ Church, Philadelphia to Convention of Diocese of Pennsylvania regarding Episcopal Assessment
November 5, 2010

To the members of convention in the Diocese of Pennsylvania:

By a unanimous vote of its Vestry, Christ Church, Philadelphia will not contribute its Episcopal Assessment for 2011. Christ Church will increase its contribution to the Program Budget for 2011 by the amount of its Episcopal Assessment. The total support for the Diocese of Pennsylvania from Christ Church, Philadelphia, will remain the same.

The Vestry of Christ Church, Philadelphia fully knows that by refusing to contribute its Episcopal Assessment for 2011, we lose representation in Diocesan Convention. We pray that the Convention will restore our voice and vote as diocesan canons permit, and to the other parishes that will similarly participate in this act of ecclesial disobedience.

We take this action willingly and without hesitation for two reasons: First, the decision of Charles Bennison to continue as diocesan bishop continues to threaten the Program Budget, which at this moment in time is more important to the mission and ministry of the Diocese of Pennsylvania. We discern that we are better stewards of the resources entrusted to us by increasing our support of the Program Budget.
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