Resolutions Adopted by the 175th Convention
A Resolution to Establish a Capital Campaign Committee for the Diocese
of Vermont
A Resolution to Merge St. Thomas’ and Grace
Churches
A Resolution Calling for Climate/Carbon Neutrality Energy Audits
A Resolution Commending the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church
A Resolution Establishing Minimum Clergy Compensation
A Resolution to Establish a Process for Determining Minimum Clergy
Compensation for Clergy Employed Less Than Full-Time
A Resolution to Establish a Capital Campaign Committee
for the Diocese of Vermont
Resolved, That the 175th Convention of the Diocese of Vermont authorize the Bishop, in consultation with Diocesan Council, to establish and appoint a Diocesan Capital Campaign Committee for the purpose of determining the feasibility and timing of the next Diocesan Capital Campaign and to report its recommendations to the 176th Diocesan Convention; and, be it further
Resolved, That the Bishop and Diocesan Council appropriate from available funds the reasonable costs associated with the work of this committee, including costs associated with a feasibility study.
Proposers: Bishop and Diocesan Council
Explanation
The last Diocesan Capital Campaign was conducted from 1995 to 1997. The
campaign goal was $1.6 million and the campaign raised nearly $1.5
million. Through this campaign the McClure Discovery 2000 initiatives
were established and the Bishop Butterfield Loan fund was nearly doubled.
The fund value in each of the initiatives has grown, while nearly $500,000
worth of grants has been awarded to congregations and groups. Every
congregation in the Diocese of Vermont has benefited from these funds.
Today there is a continuing opportunity and need to add to these funds in order to build upon the good work being accomplished through these funds in the congregations of our diocese. There are significant deferred maintenance and capital improvements needs at Rock Point. There is a need to ensure the future financial stability of the diocese through an increase in diocesan endowment funds. There is interest in establishing a new Global Mission Fund initiative to build up our capacity to respond to needs throughout the world. There is interest in advancing our ministry involvement with college students and young adults. There is a need to examine other future ministry opportunities.
A Resolution to Merge St. Thomas’ and Grace Churches
Resolved, That this 175th Convention of the Diocese of Vermont does hereby acknowledge the desire of the members of the Parish Church of Saint Thomas, Brandon, and the members of the Mission Church, Grace, Forestdale, to merge and form one Parish to be known as Saint Thomas’ & Grace Episcopal Church. The Convention acknowledges receipt of the minutes of the combined Vestry of Saint Thomas’ Church and Grace Church held on May 14, 2007, recording the unanimous vote expressing this desire. The Convention also acknowledges receipt of the minutes of the Grace Church congregational meeting held on June 3, 2007, recording unanimous approval of the dissolution of Grace Church as a Mission of the Diocese of Vermont and transferring its real estate, furnishings and other personal property, and investments to, and its merging into, Saint Thomas’ Church, Brandon. The Convention further acknowledges receipt of the minutes of the special Parish Meeting of Saint Thomas’, Brandon, held on June 3, 2007, recording unanimous approval of such dissolution, transfer and merger, and of the transfer to the Trustees of the Diocese of Vermont of any real estate of Saint Thomas’ Church not already so titled. Be it further
Resolved, That, pursuant to the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Vermont and of the Episcopal Church, this 175th Convention of the Diocese of Vermont gives its consent to the dissolution of Grace Church as a Mission Church of the Diocese of Vermont and to the transfer of all of its real estate, investments, and furnishings and other personal property to Saint Thomas’ Church for use in the continuance of the mission of the Diocese of Vermont and of The Episcopal Church in a newly formed merger of Grace Church into Saint Thomas’ Church, effective upon approval of the Convention of the Diocese of Vermont meeting in Burlington, Vermont on November 3, 2007.
Proposers: St. Thomas’, Brandon, and Grace, Forestdale
A Resolution Calling for Climate/Carbon Neutrality Energy Audits
Resolved, That the 175th Convention of the Diocese of Vermont call upon each of its parishes to conduct an in-house environmental audit of its energy use, consumption patterns, and plant use management, and be it further
Resolved, That each parish be prepared to report by the 177th convention on its audit and its plan to address deficits in its local environmental stewardship, including a report of its comprehensive energy use.
Proposers: The
Rev. Anita Schell-Lambert
and
the Delegation from Saint Peter’s Bennington
The
Rev. Canon Lee Alison Crawford
and
the Delegation from Saint Mary’s, Northfield
The
Rev. Canon Diane Root
and
the Delegation from Church of Our Saviour, Killington
Explanation
2006 General Convention Resolution C018, Environmental Stewardship (below),
reaffirmed Resolution 1991-A195 that declares that Christian Stewardship
of God’s created environment, in harmony with our respect for
human dignity, requires response from the Church of the highest urgency.
In 2006, C018 also reaffirms 2000-A048 that encourag[es] all members,
congregations, dioceses, and other church institutions to use environmentally
safe and sustainable energy sources. 2006-C018 encourages all members,
dioceses, congregations and other institutions to partner with Interfaith
Power and Light, and to show respect for creation by ìreducing
energy use through conservation and increased efficiency, and by replacing
consumption of fossil fuels with energy from renewable resources. Congregations
are urged to join Vermont Interfaith Power & Light (www.vtipl.org),
which promotes energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable
energy, and conducts energy audits for congregations. One way to reduce
emissions that has proven to be successful is to work together in groups
called “EcoTeams” of five to eight households using a workbook
called “Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5,000 Pounds.” A
leader from Vermont Interfaith Power & Light visits a congregation
and gives an introduction to the workbook and helps organize EcoTeams.
The Diocese of Massachusetts has passed a like resolution. The religious community must do its part to increase its efforts to address global warming.
The Diocese of Vermont needs every congregation in this effort as the resolution requests. The goal of the diocese and its parishes is to have every congregation reduce its energy consumption and its greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible, as soon as possible. Ultimately, together, we can set and meet a goal to achieve carbon (or climate) neutrality, a day when we will consume no fossil fuels.
There are practical steps that each congregation can take to achieve
this objective.
• Go to www.vtipl.org and click on their “Taking
Action” page, and follow “Ten Steps Vermonters Can Do To Stop Global
Warming.” On their links page, there are also useful organizations.
• Contact Efficiency Vermont (www.efficiencyvermont.com)
for an energy audit to show you how worthwhile it is to insulate and to seal
windows, doors, and hatches.
A checklist as well as contact information will be available on the diocesan website. Undertaking an energy audit will entail some upfront costs. Small grants will be available from the McClure Discovery 2000 or Irish grant funds.
2006 General Convention Resolution C018: Environmental Stewardship
Resolved, That the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal
Church recognize that the use of fossil fuels harms air quality and
public health and is contributing to changes in the global climate
that threaten the lives and livelihoods of our neighbors around the
world; and be it further
Resolved, That the Convention affirm that our Christian response to global warming is a deeply moral and spiritual issue; and be it further
Resolved, That the Convention reaffirm Resolution 1991-A195, adopted by the 70th General Convention, declaring that Christian Stewardship of God’s created environment, in harmony with our respect for human dignity, requires response from the Church of the highest urgency; and be it further
Resolved, That the Convention reaffirm Resolution 2000-A048, adopted by the 73rd General Convention, encouraging all members, congregations, dioceses, and other church institutions to use environmentally safe and sustainable energy sources; and be it further
Resolved, That the Convention acknowledge with praise and appreciation the work of Interfaith Power and Light, a non-profit initiative that helps congregations, religious institutions and others work for a more just, sustainable and healthier Creation (website of Interfaith Power and Light, www.theregenerationproject.org); and be it further
Resolved, That the Convention encourage all members, congregations, dioceses, and other church institutions to consider prayerfully whether to partner with Interfaith Power and Light by incorporating respect and care for Creation into programs of worship and education, by reducing energy use through conservation and increased efficiency, and by replacing consumption of fossil fuels with energy from renewable resources.
Explanation
The direct health effects of fossil fuel combustion are well known—whether
the emissions come from the tailpipes of cars or the smokestacks of power
plants. The skyrocketing incidence of asthma among young people, especially
in urban areas, the pulmonary damage caused by urban smog, and acid rain
are examples of these effects. It is also increasingly clear that humanity’s
use of fossil fuels is causing the world to warm. Climate changes are
already apparent, and the increased intensity of hurricanes is one predicted
effect. These changes in many cases are having direct and harmful impacts
on the two-thirds of humanity who depend on natural resources for their
livelihoods. As each of us is responsible for the use of fossil fuels
through transportation and electricity consumption, each of us must consider
how to ameliorate the damage we are causing to our environment and our
neighbors.
A Resolution Commending the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church
Resolved, That the175th Convention of the Diocese of Vermont commend the Executive Council of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church for its resolution NAC 026, which reads as follows:
Resolved, the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, meeting in Dearborn, Michigan, expresses its appreciation to the House of Bishops for undertaking the monumental task of trying to clarify the conflict between the canons of the Episcopal Church and the demands raised by the Dar Es Salaam communiqué, and be it further
Resolved, the Executive Council affirms with the House of Bishops the essential and renewed study of human sexuality as noted in the “listening process” of the Lambeth Conference of 1998, and be it further
Resolved, that the House of Bishops’ statement exacerbated feelings of exclusion felt by many of the lesbian and gay members of our church by defining Resolution B033 from the 75th General Convention to include lesbian and gay people, and be it further
Resolved, that by calling particular attention to the application of B033 to lesbian and gay persons, it may inappropriately suggest that an additional qualification for the episcopacy has been imposed beyond those contained in the constitution and canons of the church, and be it further
Resolved, that while B033 focuses on the consent process for bishops, the broader impact is to discourage the full participation by lesbians and gay persons in the life of the church and enshrine discrimination in the policies of the Episcopal Church, and be it further
Resolved, that the Executive Council acknowledge with regret the additional pain and estrangement inflicted on lesbian and gay members of the church, and we pledge to work toward a time when our church will fully respect the dignity of every human being in all aspects of the life of our church.
and, be it further
Resolved, That this resolution be forwarded by the Secretary of this
Convention to the Secretary of General Convention.
Proposers:
The
Rev. Thomas J. Brown
The Rev.
Canon Lee Alison Crawford
(member
of Executive Council)
The Rev.
Gordon Bardos
The Rev.
Diane Root
The Rev.
John Morris
Anne Clarke Brown
Stannard
Baker
(All served
as members of the 2006 General Convention Deputation from Vermont)
Explanation
General Convention 2006 passed Resolutiion B033, which states:
Resolved, That the 75th General Convention receive and embrace The Windsor Report’s invitation to engage in a process of healing and reconciliation; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention therefore call upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.
The House of Bishops, meeting in New Orleans, September 20-25, 2007, issued the following statement (A Response to Questions and Concerns Raised by Our Anglican Communion Partners), the summary of which reads:
• We reconfirm that resolution B033 of General Convention 2006 (The Election of Bishops) calls upon bishops with jurisdiction and Standing Committees “to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.”
• We pledge as a body not to authorize public rites for the blessing of same-sex unions.
• We commend our Presiding Bishop's plan for episcopal visitors.
• We deplore incursions into our jurisdictions by uninvited bishops and call for them to end.
• We support the Presiding Bishop in seeking communion-wide consultation in a manner that is in accord with our Constitution and Canons.
• We call for increasing implementation of the listening process across the Communion and for a report on its progress to Lambeth 2008.
• We support the Archbishop of Canterbury in his expressed desire to explore ways for the Bishop of New Hampshire to participate in the Lambeth Conference.
• We call for unequivocal and active commitment to the civil rights, safety, and dignity of gay and lesbian persons.
The bishops’ statement goes on to say, “The House acknowledges that non-celibate gay and lesbian persons are included among those to whom B033 pertains.”
The October 28, 2007 Executive Council resolution NAC 026 points out how the House of Bishops’ statement goes beyond the language of B033 in a way that challenges the canons governing the ordination process. Title III, Canon 1, Section 2, states, “No person shall be denied access to the discernment process for any ministry, lay or ordained, in this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities or age except as otherwise provided by these Canons.” While the canon also states that, “No right to licensing, ordination, or election is hereby established,” the bishops’ statement effectively precludes one particular class of people from full participation in the election and ordination process. It has also exacerbated the pain caused by passage of the original Resolution B033.
The Executive Council
resolution commends portions of the bishops’ statement,
as do the proposers of this resolution. It also highlights the contradiction
implicit in the bishops’ statement of, on the one hand denying
consent to episcopal election and full inclusion in the sacramental rites
of the church to partnered lesbian and gay Episcopalians, and on the
other hand calling for commitment to their civil rights, safety and dignity.
The proposers of this resolution, all of whom actively participated in
General Convention 2006 as deputies or first alternate deputies, are
asking this 175th Diocesan Convention to go on record in support of the
Executive Council’s action.
A Resolution Establishing Minimum Clergy Compensation
Resolved, That the 175th Convention of the Diocese of Vermont approve the recommendation of the Diocesan Council that the minimum full time stipend for clergy in the Diocese of Vermont be increased by 2.5% for the year of 2008 to $35,190, and that travel allowance be reimbursed at the current IRS standard.
Proposer: Diocesan Council
Explanation
Canon 6.7 of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont requires that Diocesan
Council review the minimum stipend for full-time equivalent clergy
and the travel allowance and make recommendations to the Convention.
Such a minimum shall be binding on all parishes and missions upon ratification
of the Convention. A 2.5% increase reflects the average of the current
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) of the Northeast Urban Index and the
United States All Cities index.
According to the Church Pension Fund (“The 2004 Church Compensation Report,” reflecting 2004 data), the national average median compensation for full-time Episcopal clergy was $60,000, up from $58,818 in 2003. This figure includes cash stipend, fair-rental value of housing, utilities and payment of one-half of the Social Security/Medicare (SECA) tax.
Approval of this resolution will change the Beginning Level, Type II minimum cash stipend from $34,332 to $35,190, thus raising the minimum full-time compensation package to approximately $49,247 [$35,190 cash stipend, plus housing and utilities of $10,557* (at 30% of cash), plus SECA of $3,500 (at 15.3%/2 of cash, housing and utilities.)]
*This figure is based solely upon the Church Pension Fund formula for calculating housing. It may in fact not reflect an accurate amount based on the actual expenses for housing and utilities in Vermont.
A Resolution to Establish a Process for Determining Minimum Clergy Compensation for Clergy Employed Less Than Full-Time
Resolved, That the 175th Convention of the Diocese of Vermont recommend to the congregations of the diocese the adoption, within the next four years, of the following procedure for determining minimum clergy compensation for clergy employed less than full time:
First, that a “full-time equivalent” minimum compensation amount shall be determined, this amount being the minimum compensation that would result from the application of the process defined in the resolution approved by the 2006 Diocesan Convention titled, “Establish a Process for Determining Minimum Clergy Compensation,” if the cleric were employed full-time instead of less than full-time.
Second, that a “percentage of full-time” be determined, where the numerator is the units or hours per period to be worked by the cleric and the denominator is the units or hours per period that a full-time cleric would work.
Third, that minimum cash compensation for the part-time cleric be the product resulting from multiplying the “full-time equivalent” minimum compensation amount by the “percentage of full-time.”
Fourth, that the minimum cash salary be adjusted annually to reflect the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) based on an average of Consumer Price Index (CPI) of Northeast Urban Index and the United States All Cities Index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, or as determined by Diocesan Council, pursuant to Canon 6.7.
Fifth, that in addition to cash salary, an annual housing equity allowance be provided for any cleric living in church furnished housing, the allowance to be at least the product of multiplying the “full-time equivalent” percentage by the minimum annual housing equity allowance for full-time clergy as determined in accordance with the 2006 Diocesan Convention titled, “Establish a Process for Determining Minimum Clergy Compensation.”
Sixth, that health and dental insurance be provided as though the cleric were full-time for any cleric whose “percentage of full-time” is 50% or more.
Seventh, that pension be provided in accordance with the Canons of the Episcopal Church.
Eighth, professional expenses, vacation time, holidays, continuing education and sabbatical leave be provided at the same level as for clergy employed full-time.
Proposer: Diocesan Council
Explanation
While the Diocese of Vermont has a clear process for determining norms
for minimum compensation for clergy employed full-time, the current
compensation policy for clergy employed less than full-time is vague.
This resolution provides a procedure for determining minimum compensation
for part-time clergy. It is heavily reliant on the resolution passed
by Diocesan Convention in 2006 entitled, “Establish a Process
for Determining Minimum Clergy Compensation,” which resolution
is fully reproduced below.
A Resolution to Establish a Process for Determining Minimum Clergy Compensation (2006)
Resolved, That the 174th Convention of the Diocese of Vermont
recommend to the congregations of the diocese the adoption, within the
next five years, of the following norms for determining minimum clergy
compensation:
• that cash compensation be based upon
credited years of service in church ministry as established by the Church Pension
Fund employing the Schedule of Mandatory Minimum Cash Salaries (see below),
• that the Mandatory Minimum Cash Salaries
be adjusted annually to reflect the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) based
on an average of Consumer Price Index (CPI) of Northeast Urban Index and the
United States All Cities Index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor,
or as determined by Diocesan Council pursuant to diocesan Canon 6.7 [portion
in italics added as an amendment].
• that in addition to the cash salary,
an annual housing equity allowance of at least seven percent (7%) of the Year
1/Level 1 from the Schedule of Mandatory Minimum Cash Salaries be provided
for those clergy living in church furnished housing; and be it further
Resolved, That comparative information on compensation and benefit levels and practices among the parishes be available and be provided annually to the Bishop and the Diocesan Council. The Diocesan Council shall report to Convention on the compliance with existing standards, and may initiate conversations with any parish vestry in the Diocese, when, in the Bishop's discretion, this is deemed advisable.
Proposer: Diocesan Council
Explanation
Canon 6.7 of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, requires that Diocesan
Council shall review the minimum stipend and travel allowance of the
Clergy* of the Diocese and shall recommend the same to Convention with
regard to proper support of the [ordained] ministry.
This resolution seeks to provide for justice and equity for ordained priests in a system within which one does not normally work to get an increase in pay.
This resolution would replace the current compensation minimums based on Church Types with a schedule based on a combination of years of ordained service and the annual budget of the parish divided into two Levels. We believe that this is a more equitable way to compensate clergy since there is no provision in the current system to guarantee increases in clergy salaries that recognizes additional years of experience or that rewards merit.
Clergy living in a rectory do not acquire equity in the property over time. An annual equity allowance of 7% of the minimum for Year 1/Level 1, would yield a sum that would offset, either partially or totally, the cost of a down payment for a house. The housing equity allowance amount for 2007 would be $2,403. The method for disposal of this allowance would be left to the discretion of the cleric so that it may be used in the way most beneficial to the cleric.
Regarding the publication of compensation information, to successfully implement a diocesan-wide standard of clergy compensation it is necessary that compensation information be available to the Diocesan Council so that it can address any instances of non-compliance. This information can also be useful to parish vestries as they work toward bringing their compensation package into compliance, or as they enter into a discernment process to call a new priest.
The Diocesan Council recognizes that meeting these standards will present significant challenges to some parishes. Yet it is our hope that each parish will examine not only their ability to pay their clergy, but also consider the financial welfare of their clergy.
* References to "clergy" in this resolution and in the Canons refer primarily to ordained priests in paid church positions, since in the Diocese of Vermont, deacons do not generally receive stipends.
Schedule of Mandatory Minimum Cash Salaries for 2007 #
Years of
Ordination Level
1* Level
2**
1 $ 34,332 $ 38,647
2 $ 34,881 $ 39,265
3 $ 35,439 $ 39,893
4 $ 36,006 $ 40,531
5 $ 36,582 $ 41,180
6 $ 37,167 $ 41,839
7 $ 37,762 $ 42,508
8 $ 38,366 $ 43,188
9 $ 38,980 $ 43,879
10 $ 39,604 $ 44,581
11 $ 40,238 $ 45,294
12 $ 40,882 $ 46,019
13 $ 41,536 $ 46,755
14 $ 42,201 $ 47,503
15 $ 42,876 $ 48,263
16 $ 43,562 $ 49,035
17 $ 44,259 $ 49,820
18 $ 44,967 $ 50,617
19 $ 45,686 $ 51,427
20 $ 46,417 $ 52,250
#The annual increase in minimum cash salaries represents an increase of 1.6%
* Level
1 represents parishes with annual budgets below $143,000.
** Level 2 represents parishes with annual
budgets of $143,000 and above.
These two Levels were established based on the
four parish Types approved by the 2004 Convention.
Annual Cost of Living Adjustments for 2004-2007 have been applied to the old Type II and Type III to come up with the parish budget figures for the new Level 1 and Level 2, respectively.
