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2011 Annual Appeal is well underway
by the Right Reverend Thomas Clark Ely, Bishop of Vermont
Mountain Echo, April 2011

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:34)

One of the wonderful things I have come to know and appreciate about the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont over the course of these past ten years is how incredibly generous you are. Year after year I have witnessed the faithfulness with which congregations respond in fulfilling their financial commitment to our diocesan mission. In 2010, 100% of our congregations fulfilled 100% of their commitment (assessment). That is generally the way it is in our diocese, except in some extraordinary circumstances. Thank you for that continuing faithful witness to our common life and mission. I take it as an important indication of where your hearts are beating as we live out and into the promises of Baptism.

Beyond that, and even more impressive to me, are the human and financial responses you make to pressing human needs in your local congregations and communities, as well as in response to appeals for help in times of earthquake, famine, fire and flood, both in the United States and in countries throughout the world. Whether it is helping a child go to Summer Camp at Rock Point, supporting Nets for Life, Kids4Peace, Camp Agape, CHABA, the church and its people in El Salvador, Sudan, Uganda, Haiti, Honduras, Jerusalem, or now in Japan, the people of our diocese are as generous as any I know or read about. And that is only a small list of ways in which we share our human and financial resources with others.

Clearly, the people of Vermont “get it” that we are called, as part of our discipleship and participation in God’s reconciling mission, to give: to give of our time, our talent and our treasure in response to all God has given us. To be sure, we are still growing and learning this way of life more fully each day, but there is no doubt in my mind that we are faithfully striving to live into the holy pattern of stewardship of a generous and loving God inviting our love and generosity in return. There is no joy greater for me as your bishop then to see the evidence of this commitment expressed in so many ways.

It did not surprise me, therefore, when faced with a need for additional income to support the mission and ministry priorities of our diocese that the Diocesan Council and other leaders who participated in budget deliberations last year recommended that we initiate an Annual Appeal in 2011. Diocesan Convention embraced this new initiative in approving the 2011 Diocesan Budget as presented. The goal is $100,000, and we are well on our way toward meeting that goal.
The approach we developed for inviting gifts to the Annual Appeal was to ask diocesan leaders to make the first commitments. During the first two months of 2011, I invited members of the Diocesan Council, Standing Committee, Trustees, Ministry Support Team and members of diocesan Committees, Commissions and Boards to make their gift or pledge to this appeal. To date, 44 people have made gifts or pledges totaling just over $20,000. More are responding each week. During the month of March, clergy and lay delegates to Diocesan Convention (who have not already been invited to give) will be asked for their support. Following that, a general appeal will go out to all members and friends of our diocese with the hope that we will reach our goal by Ascension Day (June 2, 2011). Of course, no one need wait to be asked to give to this Annual Appeal, and those wanting to make a gift or pledge have a number of options for how to do so (see below).

Each person is invited to give according to his or her means. To date, contributions have ranged from $20 to $4,000. The measure of our success in this effort, beyond the total amount raised, will be the number of people who participate. My hope is that each member and friend of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont will make a contribution to this Annual Appeal. I know full well that this is not the only appeal for financial support that you have been asked to make this year, nor will it be the last. What I do hope is that it will be among those to which you respond by saying YES!

With your continued generosity and hearts aligned for participation in God’s mission, our common ministry will continue strong and expand in ways that will serve our congregations, communities and God’s mission in the world with faithfulness and vitality.

Gratefully yours in Christ,
+Thomas

How to give to the 2011 Annual Appeal
1. Use the new “give now” button on the home page under “Annual Appeal.” You can make a one-time donation or schedule smaller donations over a period of time. You will be asked for basic information and will have the option of electronic transfer from your bank account or credit card payment. The basic information will be stored as your account on a secure site, so that in the future, donations or payments for registration fees can be made quickly and easily.

2. Download a pledge card from the Annual Appeal page, print it, and mail it to Annual Appeal, Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, 5 Rock Point Road, Burlington, VT 05401.

3. Call or email the diocesan office and ask to have a pledge card mailed to you: 800-286-3437 or 802-863-3431; adminasst@dioceseofvermont.org.