belorussia yonder: Diocesan Budget 2013

Dear members of the Diocese of Lexington,

We serve a God of abundance. We are called to use God?s gifts creatively and effectively. The Diocese of Lexington is blessed with many caring and committed Christians devoted to the wide diversity of God?s work. We, as an organization of believers, must plan collectively to exercise faithful stewardship over the resources God has entrusted to us. Those resources go far beyond financial resources. Indeed, our most significant resources are not financial. We do, however, need to make decisions about our finances. The Budget Committee needs your input in the process of allocating our financial resources for 2013.

Please review your ministry and let the Budget Committee know what financial resources you will need in 2013. Please consider how your ministry should change over time and where we can best focus resources to meet our needs and the needs of others. Be open to the possibility that there may be better ways to pursue a ministry, or that it may be better pursued by others. To the extent possible, please let us know what is essential to your ministry, what is important but not vital, and tell us your dreams. Our goal is to be faithful stewards and not to continue existing programs with a standard increase. The success of the ministry of the Diocese depends on your creativity. You may review the 2011 budget on the diocesan website at www.diolex.org.

A Diocesan Budget Request Form can be downloaded to assist you in the budgeting process. Please send your Diocesan Budget Request form to: The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, ATTN: Budget Committee, PO Box 610, Lexington, KY 40588-0610, or email to our chair, Jim Ware, at jim.ware@insightbb.com no later than November 1, 2012.

The budget for 2013 will be developed using the following process:

October 3 through November 1, 2012 ? Budget Committee receives budget requests from committees, agencies, departments, and staff of the Diocese and drafts the Dream Budget based upon the requests for funding. NOTE: Any request for funding received after November 1 will not be included in the Dream Budget.

October 15, 2012 ? Budget Committee receives parish Fair Share Assessment amounts (before appeals) from the Finance Committee.

December 8, 2012 ? Unedited budget based on requests and full payment of assessments is presented to the Executive Council.

January 2013: Budget hearings will take place, with dates and times to be set at a later date. After budget hearings, the Budget Committee will meet with the Bishop to balance the 2013 budget.

January 26, 2013 ? Balanced budget is presented to the Executive Council for its approval.

February 22&23, 2013 ? Executive Council?s budget presented to 117th Annual Convention.
You are encouraged to fully participate in the budgeting process. Please attend the hearings and encourage others to come. There will be a webcast of the budget hearing and there will be a recording of the hearing available on the diocesan website for you to view at your leisure. We also ask that you take a few minutes and fill out the budget survey that will be available on the website. The best result will come from the collaboration of as many people as possible.?

Faithfully yours,

The 2013 Budget Committee

Jim Ware, Chair (Christ Church Cathedral)
859-266-6947, jim.ware@insightbb.com

Jim Kimbrough (Ascension, Frankfort)
502-695-7039, jimk@fewpb.net

Ann Richmond (St. John?s, Versailles)
859-492-4389, richmond@qx.net

The Rev. Laurie Brock (St. Michael?s, Lexington)
859-277-7511, rector@saint-michaels.org

Stacy Morschhauser (Holy Trinity, Georgetown)
859-619-7638, stacymorsch@gmail.com

Ann Davis McClain, Treasurer, Ex officio
859-987-5327, adsm01@bellsouth.net

Holli Powell, Bishop?s Representative
859-252-6527, hpowell@diolex.org