183rd Annual Convention
Resolutions results are in
October 25-26, 2002
Bangor Civic Center

last revised 10/27/2002

RE: Voting rights for clergy
SUBMITTED BY: The Rev. Edwin Cox

Strikeout = Deleted wording
Underline = Added wording

RESOLVED that the Constitution, Article III Section 3 subsection (3) be amended, and a new subsection (4) added, to read:

(3) The right to a seat and vote in the Convention shall not be forfeited by any Presbyter or Deacon canonically resident in the Diocese who for at least five consecutive years shall have possessed such right under the provisions of this Article and, after having such right for five consecutive years, shall be retired under the provisions of the Church Pension Fund, by reason of retirement or shall by reason of age or infirmity be disabled from the performance of the active duties of the ministry of such Presbyter or Deacon.

RE: Canon on Convention Committee on Finance
SUBMITTED BY: The Rev. Edwin Cox

Strikeout = Deleted wording
Underline = Added wording

RESOLVED that the Canon 5 and Canon 17 be combined, renamed, and relocated, to read:

All financial reports to the Annual Convention shall be made for the Calendar Year.

Section 1. There shall be a Convention Committee on Finance consisting of at least three (3) Presbyters or deacons and three (3) laypersons, appointed by the Bishop at the Annual Convention.

Section 2. It shall receive all financial reports submitted to the Convention to pass on their accuracy and ascertain that they are duly audited when such auditing is required. All financial reports to the Annual Convention shall be made for the Calendar Year.

Section 3. Any resolutions involving the expenditure of money not already provided in the Budget of the Diocese or the Missionary Society shall be referred to this Committee after being introduced to the Convention.

Canon 17 is titled "Of the Committee on Finance," which is confusing as opposed to the "Finance Committee" required by Canon 15.2.(9), which reports to Diocesan Council. The Committee on Finance has different duties and responsibilities, and exists for the benefit of the Convention. The renaming eliminates the confusion.

Since the Committee on Finance relates to Convention, it properly belongs in Part I of the Canons.

The current Canon 17 could be inserted as a separately numbered Canon after the present Canon 5. However, this would have required renumbering all present Canons 6 through 16. By combining it with the present Canon 5 and reserving Canon 17, the renumbering (and possible attendant confusion) is minimized.

RE: Establishing a Companion Diocese Relationship
SUBMITTED BY: Task Force on Establishing a Companion Diocese Relationship

RESOLVED, that the 183rd Convention of the Diocese of Maine endorses the formation of a Companion Relationship between this diocese and the Diocese of Haiti, beginning in 2003 and continuing for a period of 5 years, unless it is terminated by mutual consent; and be it further, that the 183rd Convention of the Diocese of Maine endorses the formation of a Companion Relationship between this diocese and the Diocese of Haiti, beginning in 2003 and continuing for a period of 5 years, unless it is terminated by mutual consent; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Bishop be empowered to set up a representative Companion Relationship Commission to implement this relationship, including the recruitment of persons and congregations in the diocese to participate in this relationship.

Task Force members: Dr. Harold "Brownie" Brown, Chair; Ms. Rita Redfield; The Rev. Holly Antolini; Ms. Ricia Hyde; Mr. Christopher Glass.

Re: Funding International Development
Submitted by: Task Force on Funding International Development

RESOLVED, that, responding to the charge of the 181st Convention of the Diocese of Maine to establish and support Anglican partnerships for international development among the poorest of the poor, the Diocese of
Maine annually budget a percentage of its net disposable income, determined on the same basis as the National Church Asking, to support such partnerships as already have congregational support in the Diocese of Maine, increasingly that percentage incrementally over the next three budgets -- .23 % in 2003 and .47 % in 2004, to reach the goal of 0.7 % by 2005, dedicating at least that 0.7% of net disposable income to such partnerships annually thereafter, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Diocesan Council establish an International Development Committee to manage the dispersal of these funds and report to Council, and be it further

RESOLVED that the International Development Committee, in conjunction with the congregations involved, will develop materials to increase awareness of the economic development issues addressed by the outreach partnership, to be supplied to all congregations in the Diocese of Maine.

EXPLANATION: 

The proposed funds supporting Anglican partnerships for international development among the poor would be dedicated to partnerships already supported by congregations in the Diocese of Maine in the hope and intention that such funds would nurture a real and growing relationship -- a community of caring and mutual concern and not just of financial help -- between ourselves and others living in much less privileged circumstances. An offering of such incarnated partnership would differ substantially from our purely financial donations to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD). In dedicating 0.7% of its annual net disposable income to such partnerships, the Diocese of Maine would be following precisely the commitment made at the 73rd General Convention of ECUSA, which in turn built on that made at the 1998 Lambeth Conference of Bishops.  The proposed [percentage in 2003, based on the proposed budget for the 183rd Convention of the Diocese of Maine, would equal $3010.00.

Task Force members: Dr. Harold "Brownie" Brown, chair; Ms. Rita Redfield; The Rev. Holly Antolini; Ms. Ricia Hyde; Mr. Christopher Glass

RESOLUTION # 5
(to be considered only if Resolution #4 passes)

RE: International Development Committee
SUBMITTED BY: Task Force on Funding International Development

RESOLVED that until the formation of an International Development Committee, the Task Force on Funding International Development oversee the dispersal of the funds budgeted in 2003 to support the existing Anglican partnership for international development among the poorest of the poor between the Diocese of Haiti and the congregations of the Episcopal Church of St. John Baptist, Thomaston and St. Andrew’s, Newcastle.

The Haitian partnership of the two congregations of St John Baptist and St. Andrews were selected for our 2003 donation because these two congregations have an established track record of personal relationship and mutual exchange with Anglican congregations in Haiti, and because we are proposing to establish a Companion Relationship with the Diocese of Haiti, which would offer further possibilities for congregational relationships between the Maine and Haitian dioceses.

RE: Clergy Compensation for 2003
SUBMITTED BY: Clergy and Lay Employee Compensation Committee

RESOLVED that the minimum compensation for a presbyter in full time service, consisting of Salary, Social Security Allowance, and Housing and Utilities Allowance (as determined by the Pension Fund formula [see Attachment #1]) is to be set at the following four levels depending on the formula provided in Attachment #2: that the minimum compensation for a presbyter in full time service, consisting of Salary, Social Security Allowance, and Housing and Utilities Allowance (as determined by the Pension Fund formula [see Attachment #1]) is to be set at the following four levels depending on the formula provided in Attachment #2:

Church Type Minimum Compensation

I      $47,925
II     $51,850
III   $56,775
IV   $62,700

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all congregations are urged to achieve this compensation level in calendar year 2003, and are required as a minimum for 2003 to achieve a level of compensation not less than the amount of clergy compensation in that congregation for calendar year 2002 plus 50% of the difference between that and the minimum established in the foregoing resolution clause; and are required to achieve this compensation level in full by the calendar year 2004; and that all congregations are urged to achieve this compensation level in calendar year 2003, and are required as a minimum for 2003 to achieve a level of compensation not less than the amount of clergy compensation in that congregation for calendar year 2002 plus 50% of the difference between that and the minimum established in the foregoing resolution clause; and are required to achieve this compensation level in full by the calendar year 2004; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in cases where suitable housing and utilities are not provided, the housing and utilities allowance be set at no less than $12,238; and that in cases where suitable housing and utilities are not provided, the housing and utilities allowance be set at no less than $12,238; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that it is recommended that presbyters be compensated above the required minimum according to years of ordained service in parish ministry by the formula provided in Attachment #3; and, that it is recommended that presbyters be compensated above the required minimum according to years of ordained service in parish ministry by the formula provided in Attachment #3; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the guidelines for minimum compensation for supply clergy be those contained in Attachment #4; and that the guidelines for minimum compensation for supply clergy be those contained in Attachment #4; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the travel allowance for 2003 be set at the rate recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. that the travel allowance for 2003 be set at the rate recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

BE IT RESOLVED that this Convention adopt the following formula for determining assessments:

(fill in the blank when one option is adopted)
The 5% on the First $10,000 of NOI Formula 

(While this is not exactly the precise wording that filled in the blank, it indicates the action of convention.  Look for the exact wording of the adopted resolution on the website on Monday, October 28.)

At Convention in 1999 a resolution was adopted requesting the Bishop to appoint a task force to examine and study the means by which the Diocesan budget is funded. A Task Force on Assessment Review was appointed by the Bishop and has engaged in study, research, prayer, analyses and discussion since it was first established. The Task Force reported to Convention in 2000 and 2001, and by the terms of the resolution in 1999, was directed to return to Convention in 2002 with its report and recommendations.

The Task Force has presented to the Diocese and Convention three different formulas by which the annual assessment on Congregations might be applied. The Task Force has declined to make a determination, or to recommend to the Convention which of the three is the most "fair". The Task Force believes that is the responsibility of the Diocese assembled in Convention.

The Task Force has presented to the Diocese in a number of meetings over the past year, and in materials distributed and posted on the Diocesan website, examples of how each of the three formulas would affect every congregation in the Diocese, and compared each of them to the existing formula that has been in use since 1997. The delegates from each congregation can not only determine how each formula would impact his or her congregation, but can also discern how each impacts every other congregation in the Diocese. It is in that careful examination and comparison that a determination of what is most "fair" lies.

Convention should understand that the starting percentage in the three-step formula and the final percentages used in both of the other two formulas are not fixed or unchanging. As each year presents the Diocese with a new budget and an estimated total amount to be provided by congregations, a calculation will have to be made to determine what those percentages must be to provide the funds required.

One of the formulas described below, to be applied beginning with calendar year 2003, will be the means by which funds will be provided by the congregations in the Diocese sufficient to fulfill the requirements of the Diocesan Budget adopted by the Convention. The assessment will be based, at least in part, upon a percentage of the most recent year’s total Normal Operating Income (Parochial Report Line Al) reported for the calendar year ending one year prior to the start of the budget year.

Convention will select one of the following formulas:

1. The Three Step Formula

An initial percentage (the "starting percentage") is applied to the first $50,000 of Normal Operating Income (NOI) as reported on the applicable Parochial Report; a percentage two (2) percentage points above the starting percentage is applied to the next $50,000 of NOI; and a percentage six (6) percentage points above the starting percentage is applied to all NOI in excess of $100,000. The starting percentage shall be determined by using this formula to provide the total funds specified by the annual Diocesan budget.

2. The Multiple Strengths Formula
• The first portion of the assessment upon congregations to fund the annual Diocesan budget shall be provided by (a) dividing 10% of the total amount of the annual budget by the total number of communicants-in-good standing reported on the applicable parochial report for all congregations in the Diocese to establish an amount per communicant-in-good standing; and (b) multiplying that amount by the number of communicants-in-good standing reported by each congregation on its applicable parochial report.
• The second portion of the assessment upon congregations to fund the annual Diocesan budget shall be provided by (a) dividing 5% of the total amount of the annual budget by the total number of average Sunday attendees reported on the applicable parochial report for all congregations in the Diocese to establish an amount per average Sunday attendee; and (b) multiplying that amount by the number of average Sunday attendees reported by each congregation on its applicable parochial report.
• The next portion shall be provided by multiplying the first $20,000 of NOI reported by each congregation on the applicable parochial report by 5%.
• The final portion of the assessment shall be provided by multiplying reported NOI in excess of $20,000 of each congregation by a percent sufficient so that the combination of each of these steps applied to all congregations in the Diocese will provide the total funds specified by the annual budget.
3. The 5% on the First $10,000 of NOI Formula

First $10,000 of NOI reported by each congregation on the applicable parochial report will be multiplied by 5%.

All reported NOI in excess of $10,000 for each congregation will be multiplied by a percent sufficient so the combination of each of these steps applied to all congregations in the Diocese will provide the total funds specified by the annual budget.

 

If no one of the formulas described above receives approval by at least a simple majority of the delegates at the Convention, the existing method for determining the annual assessment, established by Convention in 1997, shall remain in effect until further action of the Diocese in Convention.

Whichever formula receives approval by at least a simple majority of the delegates at the Convention shall remain in effect until further action of the Diocese in Convention.

The budget submitted to Convention for year 2003 contains an amount to provide temporary grants-in-aid to congregations that experience unforeseen financial difficulties in adapting to one of the new formulas described above which is approved by Convention (there is a Transition Plan in the TFAR materials that covers this).

RE: Canon 21, Of the Election of the Vestry
SUBMITTED BY: Convention Committee on Canons SUBMITTED BY: Convention Committee on Canons

RESOLVED, that Canon 21 be amended to read:, that Canon 21 be amended to read:

CANON 21
Of the Election of the Vestry

Section 1. No one shall be elected a Warden or a member of the Vestry who is not a confirmed lay person, a communicant in good standing, and a stated contributor to, and worshipper in, the parish for which he or she is elected. No one shall be elected a Warden who is not of full legal age, or a member of the Vestry who is not at least 15 years of age. Wardens and members of the Vestry shall meet the eligibility standards of the laws of Maine. In every Parish, a majority of the members of the Vestry shall be persons of full legal age.

Section 2. Any Parish may by special vote provide that the members of the Vestry chosen at any specified time shall be divided into classes, holding office for 1, 2, and 3 years respectively, and that thereafter the election of a member to the Vestry (except to fill vacancies) shall be for 3 years; and any such Parish may also by special vote provide that no member of the Vestry shall be re-elected at the end of a full 3 years of office, but only after an interval of at least 1 year.

Explanation

RE: Feasibility Study
SUBMITTED BY: Capital Campaign Advisory Group (CCAG)

RESOLVED that this 183^rd Convention of the Diocese of Maine commends the work of the Capital Campaign Advisory Group over the past year and now directs it to conduct a professionally run Feasibility Study with the understanding that on the basis of that Study and other factors Diocesan Council may determine that the time is right to inaugurate a Diocesan Capital Campaign in 2003; and be it further

RESOLVED that, should the Diocesan Council so determine that a campaign is indeed feasible, the Bishop and the Standing Committee call a Special Convention for 10 May 2003 for the purpose of authorizing a Diocesan Capital Campaign.

The 182^nd Diocesan Convention of 2001 approved Diocesan-wide discussion and discernment about the possibility of a Capital Campaign. With the guidance of the Bishop’s Capital Campaign Advisory Group and the participation of many people from around the Diocese that discussion has been lively and fruitful, and the discernment has gained clarity.

A Feasibility Study is the next step in this process. A Feasibility Study will provide information showing what level of support currently exists for a Capital campaign, what the ideal timeframe and format would be and how to rank the priorities of mission and ministry presented at the seven Area Meetings held between April and July 2002. Funding for the continuing discernment process and a Feasibility Study has already been authorized by the Diocesan Trustees in the form of an interest free loan of up to $50,000 and Holliman Associates has been engaged to carry it out. Should the results of the Feasibility Study indicate that a Capital Campaign is neither timely nor financially realistic, the $50,000 loan from the Trustees will be repaid over two years through the generous pledges of two members of the Diocese. Repayment will be made on an interest-free basis in two annual installments of at least $25,000. These pledges are irrevocable and binding on the individuals and their estates.

This resolution also outlines the process by which a Special Convention of the Diocese would be called to authorize a Capital Campaign. Article II of the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Maine in Section 2 provides that:

"A Special Convention may be called by the Ecclesiastical Authority at any time and shall be called when requested by the Standing Committee."

Regarding the timing of the notification, in Section 3 of Article 2, the following stipulation is made:

"Fourteen days’ notice of every Special Convention and of every change in the time and place of the Annual Convention, shall be given to all the Clergy, Parishes, and Missions of the Diocese."

Capital Campaign Advisory Group: Rev. Larney Otis, Co-convenor of CCAG (and contact person for the Resolution); Robert Flory, Co-convenor; Kenneth Barrett; Peter Bickford; John Bird; William Clark; Ed Daggett; Gretta Estey; Theodore Fletcher; Steve Hyde; Alan Shaver; Phillips Smith; Robert Taylor; the Revs. Christopher Chornyak; Charles Newbery; Michael Rowe; and, Stephen White.

Diocesan Staff Liaisons: Laurie Kazilionis; Heidi Shott; Rev. Canon Linton Studdiford; and Vicki Wiederkehr.

Resolution "A"
RE: Opposing Unilateral War with Iraq
Submitted by:  Wiley Todd and Sam Rector, St. John Baptist, Thomaston

RESOLVED that the 183rd Convention of the Diocese of Maine commit to pray that the United States will act as a member of the family of nations by working internationally to secure global stability; and be it further

RESOLVED that we oppose initiating war against a sovereign country where no triggering event warrants such action, believing it would establish a precedent that could invite chaos among nations in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED that we do not support a decision to go to war without clear and convincing evidence of the need to defend ourselves against an imminent attack; and be it further

RESOLVED that should war in Iraq become necessary, the United States should not intervene without the full support of the U.N., no without factoring in the probability of unintended consequences, including unacceptable civilian casualties; and be it further

RESOLVED that this statement be communicated to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the members of the Maine Congressional Delegation, and the Public Policy Network of the Episcopal Church.

Explanation

The letter from the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church, meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 1, 2002, states: "...We recognize the possibility that war is sometimes unavoidable, but we do not believe that war with Iraq can be justified at this time.

~ Iraq has not attacked the United States
~ Our nation has not exhausted all possibilities for a peaceful solution to this potential conflict, including a new vigorous arms inspection regime.
~ Our nation has not sufficiently garnered world support.
~ It is highly likely that the consequences of a war with Iraq will not be contained within its borders.
~ We believe a pre-emptive strike against Iraq, with the overwhelming force such a strike may require to attain an expedient victory, may have many unintended consequences, including unacceptable civilian casualties."

The letter from the House of Bishops also states, "As disciples of Jesus Christ, we abhor violence and war.  Our faith requires us to strive always for justice and peace.  We believe that restraint and the ongoing commitment to international cooperation are the mean toward peace that we all desire."

In raising questions about the wisdom and morality of our country's proposed course of action, the Diocese of Maine will stand with other Christian leaders: the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church of the USA, the Orthodox Church in America, The Christian Church (The Disciples of Christ), The United Church of Christ, The African Methodist Episcopal Church, The Anglican Consultative Council (representing 70 million Anglicans around the world), The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, and The Church of England's House of Bishops.

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