Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 30, 1994 TAG: 9401300109
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The 75th Annual Council of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia meeting in Blacksburg approved an $855,000 budget Saturday.
The budget includes money for a new youth coordinator for the diocese and fulfills the funding request from the national church.
The diocese spent $823,000 last year.
For the last several years, the diocese has had to cut programs and personnel - and the current budget reflects the loss of a half-time position in the diocesan office.
As has been true across the country, overall giving from parishes to the diocese and national church has declined. Light warned the council that he expects that trend to continue and that additional cuts likely will be necessary next year.
However, through a series of meetings with a long-range planning committee and other contacts, congregations had strongly urged the Southwestern Virginia diocese to find some way to hire an expert in ministry to youth.
After budget discussions late Friday and early Saturday, the budget committee pared some elements of their initial proposal and found $8,500 to pay 10 months' compensation for a youth specialist this year.
In other action Saturday, delegates debated at length a resolution critical of a new policy of the General Theological Seminary of New York that allows same-sex couples to share seminary housing.
The seminary made the allowance after a professor threatened legal action challenging a rule that prohibited such arrangements. New York City law prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of marital status.
The vestry of Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Covington submitted the resolution that would put the diocese on record opposing the new seminary policy.
Voting on that and about a dozen more resolutions will be held today.
by CNB