"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing." Malachi 3:10
My brothers and sisters in Christ,
Earlier in the year, I asked for your input into the sacred budget process. As your Bishop, I consider the budget sacred because it is the offering of your labor and love and it signifies our common union as the Body of Christ. We take, bless and share our gifts and we go out and touch the world in the name of our Savior. Therefore we committed to seeking your critical voice and meaningful input in the budget process because this is your budget.
Thus, we held five additional budget hearings over the summer. The meetings were informative, educational and served to build up this beautiful kingdom. Moreover, as a result of your input, we listened and improved the budget so that it is even more transparent and easy to understand. Because of these meetings and with the input we received; we have made the budget process more transparent, we have improved the budget narrative and notation to reflect the work of mission and ministry, and we have begun to shift the language we use about our Sacred Giving to reflect our mutual ministry. We are now using actuals in the budget when possible, posting the budget and financial information on our website, and demonstrating the contribution the staff of the offices makes to mission and ministry through allocation of time. All this work will continue during the scheduled pre-convention hearings that will occur in the next few weeks.
I would like to thank you for attending the budget hearings. This is your diocese and your budget, and it will reflect our spiritual and theological presence in the world. I also would like to thank Canon Doug Horner, Mr. Norm McClave, Mr. Eric Rabe, and all the staff from the Offices of the Diocese who spent their summer with me at these meetings. Their devotion is moving, and their love for this diocese is inspiring. Their faithfulness and hard work reflect our commitment to serve you as a staff and as an office of the Diocese.
May God bless you always, and I am blessed to serve you as Bishop of the great Diocese of Pennsylvania.
In Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez XVI Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
