October 11, 2023 | Volume 13, No. 41

Draft Budgets Ready to be Presented at Convention 2023

Budget updates from the Canon for Administration 

The fall brings a lot of renewed energy into our communities. It’s the start of the school year, people are back from their summer adventures, and many look forward to a joyous holiday season. Many churches also plan and prepare for the upcoming year through budget planning. The Diocese follows the same pattern and recently presented its draft 2024 budget to the Diocesan Council and Convocation Councils in preparation for a vote at the Diocesan Convention. You can view both of the budgets on the Diocese Website: https://gaepiscopal.org/diocesan-financial-reports/.  

Diocesan and Honey Creek Budget for 2024  

The Diocesan income compared to last year is flat, slightly down .8% from 2023. On its front, that may be a good thing. However, between inflation and rising costs, the spending power of the Diocese continues to deflate year over year. That means the Diocese has fewer resources to respond to our needs across the Diocese. Diocesan leadership continues to find creative ways to stretch dollars further for mission needs as we meet the rising costs of insurance, operating costs, and providing Cost of Living Adjustments for staff.  

At Honey Creek, we continue to face hardships resulting from the pandemic. Projected use and income for the creek is down 8.3% and, depending on engagement, could be lower. We are still in the build-back stage, and that is particularly true for the summer camp program. Several new outside groups have begun to use campus, which is terrific and mainly due to the hard work of outreach from Honey Creek for new clients. However, more than new business is required; we need our Diocesan groups to return to campus. The Bishop, Canons, and Executive Director recently met for an all-day planning session to consider a strategic plan for Honey Creek. Several projects are planned for the near future, including building a county dock, a new roof on Lodge 2, and bringing back events like Toil and Sweat to encourage volunteers to help with beautification efforts.  

2024 Congregation Budget Planning  

I am regularly asked about the best budget planning approaches, particularly during transition, growth, or decline. The following are some considerations when drafting a budget for a congregation: 

1. Leadership should ask itself what its goal/mission is for 2024. The focus of any budget is the life, work, and ministry of our churches.  
2. Start with fixed costs and big-ticket items. I encourage folks to place in the required expenses like utilities, compensation, diocesan assessment, and other similar expenses to have a starting point. Understanding the needs of the congregation can help inform stewardship planning.  
3. Share the story. Highlight the story of your congregation and the church's needs as you enter the stewardship planning stage. This provides transparency of the needs of congregations but also shares the load to communicate a goal/target for folks as they prayerfully consider their giving to the church.  
4. Be realistic and project income to expenses. If you are projecting a significant deficit budget, what’s the plan to react? If you have a surplus, what are your immediate and long-term goals?  
5. Place prayer at the center of all conversations. The gospel should be central to all conversations about the gift and stewardship of our resources.  

Are you looking for guidance on budget planning? Looking for support on strategic planning? We have several leaders who provide facilitation services to help congregations. Please get in touch with Canon Easterlin for more information.  

Ordination of Gabriel Lawrence to the Sacred Order of Deacons on Saturday

New dental plans rolling out in 2024

In 2024, the Diocese of Georgia will be moving its dental coverage plans with CPG, to Delta Dental. You will be able to access services in two Delta Dental dentist networks (Delta Dental PPO and Delta Dental Premier) or use out-of-network dentists. 

Why are my dental benefits changing?

Delta Dental provides the largest network of dentists, especially in rural areas, along with a much richer set of benefits.

What the plans cover cover:

• Diagnostic care and preventive care.
• Three dental cleanings a year (four cleanings based on certain conditions).
• Basic and major restorative services, subject to applicable coinsurance, deductibles, limitations, and exclusions.
• Orthodontia services have an enhanced in-network lifetime benefit in the Premium Plan and are also offered in our Comprehensive Plan.

How do I enroll?

• Sign in to MyCPG Accounts at cpg.org to enroll in a Delta Dental plan by your Annual Enrollment deadline.
• For more information visit the Delta Dental page on the CPG site at cpg.org/deltadental or call 888-894-7059.

Leading With Grace announces new

workshop series

The Diocese of Georgia’s Leading with Grace Saturday Workshop Series aims to train lay and ordained people to lead graciously in a variety of areas, including congregational development and vitality, group facilitation, prayer practices, forming relations across difference, and transforming conflict. Although the themes for each workshop are related, participants may attend any or all of the standalone, one-day workshops. After each workshop, LWG trainers are available to consult with participants about how to apply what they’ve learned in their home parishes. Registration will cost $35/person per workshop or $100 for all four. 

Workshop #1: Leading with Grace in Church Ministry, January in Tifton, GA

Workshop #2: Congregational Vitality Workshop, April in Statesboro, GA 

Workshop #3: Building Relationships Across Difference, August in Augusta, GA 

Workshop #4: Conflict Transformation, October in Savannah, GA

The specific dates have not been set and the locations are tentative. Please see the more detailed descriptions of the workshops by following the link below and complete the survey that follows. This will help determine the best Saturday to offer each workshop and whether these locations are best for serving the interested participants. 

Click here for the Saturday Workshop Series Survey

Open Enrollment begins in October

The Episcopal Church Medical Trust (Medical Trust) 2024 health benefits offerings and Annual Enrollment details are public. Premiums have increased from 6-8%, depending on the plan. Most of our participants are in the CDHP 20 Plan, and the rate increases by 8%. The overall national average increase is expected to be 6%. Our Diocesan-wide claim data showed a higher claim year than in years past, leading to a higher loss ratio. The Diocese recognizes that health insurance is one of the most significant costs for our congregation’s budgets. While we’ve been in line or below national averages for several years, our usage and the overall increases across all Med Trust plans are seeing significant growth this year. Additionally, Medical Trust paused substantial increases last year due to the financial impacts of the pandemic. 

Annual Enrollment for 2024 will run from October 11 to November 1.

Important change information for 2024 includes:

• New dental plan for all employees- Medical Trust has ended Cigna plans and will switch to Delta Dental. All employees with dental MUST enroll in the new vendor. 
• Now offering both Cigna and Anthem plans- some in-network providers dropped Cigna coverage in the middle of 2023 (the Augusta area in particular). We are offering both plans so employees can have better access to their choice provider. 
• New enrollments still go through the Diocese- If you employ a new employee between now and the end of the year, submit their enrollment through the Diocese. 

If you are enrolled or need to enroll, read the details on the Diocesan website here and make your changes by November 1^st. If you do not desire to change your existing coverage, you are still required to take action on your dental plan coverage if you wish to maintain it with the new vendor.

If you turn 65 in 2024, you will become eligible for the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Plans. It would be best if you shifted into the corresponding PPO plans to speed up the transition to the corresponding MSP plan. However, this is not required. Please be in contact with Canon Easterlin for any questions at keasterlin@gaepiscopal.org.

You can view 2024 rates here. 

For information about eligibility for the Episcopal Health Plan, the Small Employer Exception (SEE) Plan, and the Group Medicare Advantage Plan, refer to the Medical Trust Administrative Policy Manual.

Please note that you can also leverage Health Advocate to assist with Annual enrollment decisions. They can be reached at 866.695.8622. If you need additional support, please reach out to Canon Easterlin (keasterlin@gaepiscopal.org) or Daniel Garrick (dgarrick@gaepiscopal.org).  

Convention 2023

Nominations

The following committee positions are open for nominations. To be included in the printed convention booklet, nominations must be submitted by October 10. Nominations are open until they are closed on the floor of convention and will continue to be updated in From the Field and online until November 8.

This year's Nominations Chair is Ms. Katie Grant from Church of the Good Shepherd in Augusta. Photo: A table discussion during the 2022 Diocesan Convention.

Board of Officers of the Corporation – 1 lay person

Church Disciplinary Board – 2 lay persons & 1 clergy person

Diocesan Council – 1 lay person or clergy

Standing Committee – 1 lay person & 1 priest

Trustee of the University of the South – 1 clergy person

To view the full job descriptions, click here.

To make a nomination, click here.

Once nominated, nominees will need to fill out the nominee form that can be found here.

Biographical information and photo must be received by October 10 to guarantee inclusion in pre-conference printed materials.

Additional Information

For lodging information, click here.

To register, click here. *Please note that each delegate needs to be registered individually with separate email addresses and cell phone numbers.*

Job Openings

Saint Paul's Church, Augusta GA  is looking for a Director of Children, Youth, and Intergenerational Ministries. This person will work collaboratively with a dedicated team of clergy, staff, and volunteers to continue to develop a small but vibrant ministry with and for children and youth in the parish. There is some flexibility in how the position may be embodied. But the essentials are to work within a team of people serving God at Saint Paul’s, while taking primary responsibility for ensuring that our ministries with and for children and youth continue to deepen and expand. This is currently a half time position, with an ambition to extend it to full time. 

A job description is available here:  https://saintpauls.org/director-of-children-youth-intergenerational-ministries/

Calvary Episcopal Church, Americus, GA is looking for an organist. Duties include Sunday services, choir practice, Holy Week services, Christmas Eve, funerals, weddings, and coordinate with the Choir Director. For more information, please contact the Rev. Richard Nelson at frrichard388@gmail.com.

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi Across the Diocese

The Rev. Jim Elliott blesses his own four-legged family member Penny during the Blessing of the Animals at St. James in Quitman.

The Rev. Tommy Townsend at Holy Nativity on St. Simons Island blesses a very happy bulldog.

The Very Rev. Al Crumpton blesses some furry members of Our Savior in Martinez.

St. Paul's in Savannah held a joint bilingual Blessing of the Animals service.

The Rev. Hal Wiedman at Christ Church in Valdosta at the Blessing of the Animals.

The Rev. Guillermo Arboleda and members of St. Matthew's in Savannah enjoy a lovely afternoon of

pet blessings.

The Rev. Leeann Culbreath at St. Anne's in Tifton finds a furry creature in the most unlikely place!

The Rev. Kimberly Dunn, Deacon, blesses one of the smaller furry members of Saint Paul's in Augusta (left); Both two legged and four legged members of St. Barnabas in Valdosta enjoy their blessing in the shade (right).

The Rev. Charles Todd at Trinity in Statesboro blesses a smaller member of the parish.

Upcoming Events

New Beginnings #60

When: October 20-22, 2023

Where: Honey Creek

Participant registration here

Diocesan Convention

When: November 9-11, 2023

Where: Augusta

To register, click here.

Happening #108

When: November 17-19, 2023

Where: Honey Creek



Candidate registration here



1Book1Diocese

For Advent, we will read and discuss Everything Happens for a Reason (and other lies I have loved) by Kate Bowler

Discussion Guide for Advent

In Lent 2024, we will read and discuss The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz.

Lay Ministers' Conference

This conference is intended for any lay person in the Diocese who is in any active ministry in their congregation. Led by Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, the Academic Dean and Professor of Christian Ethics at the Seminary of the Southwest, this conference will focus on the ministry of the laity, including its joys and challenges especially over the past two years. It will frame our various calls in the context living them in a world in which "Christendom" is no longer the dominant culture (if it ever truly was!).

When: December 1-2, 2023

Where: Honey Creek

Click here to register.

Clergy Conflict Transformation Workshop

Who: All clergy

Where: Honey Creek

When: March 4-8, 2024

Contact the Rev. Becky Rowell (browell221@gmail.com) and the Rev. Melanie Lemburg (revmelanie@stthomasioh.org) to RSVP.

If you would like to have your submission considered for From the Field, it needs to be sent to Communications Manager Liz Williams (lwilliams@gaepiscopal.org) by noon on Tuesday.

Our one-year prayer cycle combines prayers for every congregation in the Diocese of Georgia with prayers for our ecumenical partners and for our Companion Diocese of The Dominican Republic.    

The 2023 one year prayer cycle is online here: 2023 Prayer Cycle.    

October 15 - 21

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Thomson, Holy Cross, and for our ecumenical partners in Thomson, especially Zion Lutheran Church in Guyton and Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Lakeland. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Santo Domingo, especially the Cathedral of the Epiphany (La Catedral de la EpifaníaI).

October 22 – October 28

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Tifton, St. Anne’s. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Tifton, especially Our Divine Saviour Catholic Church and for Holy Family Catholic Church in Willacoochee. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Santo Domingo, especially Holy Family (Sagrada Familia).

31-Day Prayer Cycles - Revised October 1, 2023

We also offer 30-day prayer cycles for those who wish to pray daily for the clergy and clergy spouses: Diocesan Prayer Cycle and Clergy Spouses Prayer Cycle. (Updated 10/1/2023)

Bishop Logue returns from Baltimore today where he was serving in his role as Vice Chair of the Episcopal Church's Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution, and Canons. On Saturday he will be at St. Patrick's in Albany to ordain Gabriel Lawrence to the Sacred Order of Deacons as a transitional deacon. On Sunday he will make his visitation to St. Philip's in Hinesville.

Photo: Bishop Logue and the Revs. Galen Mirate and Joy Davis with those who were confirmed and received at St. Paul's in Albany.

To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. (Updated for 2024 - 6/20/2023)

Canon Lasch will be celebrating and preaching at All Saints' on Tybee Island on Sunday.

Canon Varner is on sabbatical.

The best way to reach a staff member is via email as we will always get back with you promptly in many cases and in 24-72 hours when working on more pressing matters. Staff e-mails can be found here with a list of responsibilities so you know who to contact for what.

You may also reach diocesan staff by phone at (912) 236-4279.

The Blessing of the Animals isn't just for cats and dogs! Members of King of Peace in Kingsland brought all types of four legged creatures to the Blessing of the Animals.