greencrest_sm.gif (2520 bytes)

Episcopal Diocese of Maine

the 185th Diocesan Convention
October 22-23, 2004
Bangor Civic Center 

RESOLUTIONS

RESOLUTION #1
Clergy Compensation for 2005
passed as submitted		 RESOLUTION #2
Phase One of the ONE IN CHRIST Campaign
passed as submitted		 SUBSTITUTE 
RESOLUTION #3
Support Legislation to Reduce Harmful Atmospheric Emissions
tabled until Convention 2005
RESOLUTION #4
Canon 14: Of the Commission on Ministry
passed as submitted		 SUBSTITUTE
RESOLUTION #5
Canon 11: Of Deputies to the General Convention
passed as amended 

for the 185th Convention of the Diocese of Maine

The resolutions below are printed as submitted and are subject to amending at committee hearings.

RESOLUTION #1

RE: Clergy Compensation for 2005
SUBMITTED BY: Clerical and Lay Employee Compensation and Review Committee

RESOLVED that the minimum compensation for a presbyter in full time service, consisting of Cash Stipend, Self Employment Tax reimbursement, and Housing and Utilities Allowance is to be set at $49,365. The minimum compensation for a presbyter in full time service in charge of a congregation is to be set at the following four levels with Church Type determined by the formula provided in Attachment #1:

Church Type Minimum Compensation

I $49,365
II $53,405
III $58,480
IV $64,580

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that for congregations that provide Rectories, the value of provided housing will be determined using the Pension Fund Housing Formula as follows:

[Cash Stipend (+) Self Employment Tax reimbursement* (+) Utilities actually paid] multiplied (x) by 30%

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 table provided in Attachment #2;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the travel allowance for 2005 be set at the maximum rate recognized by the Internal Revenue Service; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the guidelines for minimum compensation for supply clergy be as follows:

One Sunday Service $100.00

Two Sunday Services 130.00

Other Liturgical Services 75.00

Pastoral or other assigned responsibilities 75.00 per unit

= a unit is a morning, afternoon or evening

Expenses are reimbursed at cost for meals, lodging, telephone, etc., and at the IRS maximum approved rate for mileage.

Explanation

The compensation resolution that was approved by the 183rd Convention in 2002 included a significant increase in clergy compensation to be implemented over two years. As a result, no increase was recommended to the 184th Convention in 2003. The current resolution recommends a 3% cost of living increase for 2005 over the 2003 compensation figure and increases the "Other Liturgical Services" and "Pastoral or other assigned responsibilities" under supply clergy compensation slightly, for the first time in four years.

*It is important to note that in order to calculate the Self Employment Tax reimbursement used in the "Pension Fund Housing Formula", the Actual Fair Rental Value of the rectory must first be determined. Then using Cash Stipend, Actual Fair Rental Value and Utilities, calculate the Self Employment Tax reimbursement as follows:

[Cash Stipend (+) Actual Fair Rental Value (+) Utilities] multiplied (x) by 7.65%

ATTACHMENT #1 TO RESOLUTION # 1

NOI*                Points

Up to - $107,999                 1

$108,000 - $149,999     2

$150,000 - $199,999     3

$200,000 - up                 4

ASA **                  Points

1 - 80                         1

81 - 120                     2

121 - 150                   3

151 - up                     4

Total Points         Type

0 - 3                         I

4 - 5                         II

6 - 7                         III

8                             IV

*NOI (Normal Operating Income as shown on Page 3, Line A of the Parochial Report)

**ASA (Average Sunday Attendance as shown on Page 2, Line 6 of the Parochial Report)

ATTACHMENT #2 TO RESOLUTION # 1

Years

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10
Type I

Type II

Type III

Type IV

 $49,265

$53,405

$58,480

$64,580

 $49,740

$53,880

$59,055

$65,255

 $50,115

$54,355

$59,630

$65,930

 $50,490

$54,830

$60,205

$66,605

 $50,865

$55,305

$60,780

$67,280

 $51,240

$55,780

$61,355

$67,955

 $51,615

$56,255

$61,930

$68,630

 $51,990

$56,730

$62,505

$69,305

 $52,365

$57,205

$62,080

$69,980

 $52,740

$57,680

$63,655

$70,655

Annual Minimum Increase for Priests with More than 10 Years Ordained Service

Type I  Type II  Type III Type IV
$375 $475 $575 $675

 Following the 10th year, the total compensation should be increased by at least the amounts shown above for each additional year of experience.

RESOLUTION #2

RE: Phase One of the ONE IN CHRIST Campaign
SUBMITTED BY: Diocesan Council

RESOLVED that the 1st phase of the ONE IN CHRIST Campaign with a goal of $3 million, be extended until the 186th Convention of the Diocese of Maine (October 2005); and be it further

RESOLVED that the Diocesan Council report to the 186th Convention about the status of the 1st phase of the campaign and make a recommendation for the continuation of the campaign together, if appropriate, with a listing of goals and a period of time to accomplish the same.

Explanation

Due to the Bishop’s sabbatical and the aftermath of actions by the 2003 General Convention, the ONE IN CHRIST Campaign entered into a pastoral pause. The ONE IN CHRIST Campaign has now come out of pastoral pause and it is appropriate that the November 30, 2004 deadline for the completion of the first phase be extended.

At its meeting on Saturday, May 22, 2004, the Diocesan Council voted to "report to the 2004 Diocesan Convention that the Diocesan Council endorses re-instituting the ONE IN CHRIST Campaign and that a report of the status of the 1st phase will be made to the 2005 Diocesan Convention." This essentially will be an 18 month period since the campaign began.

SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION #3

RE: Responsibility and Costs of Environmental Protection

SUBMITTED BY: Committee on Spirituality and the Environment

RESOLVED: That, after the Inauguration 2005, and providing 60 percent or more of the eligible delegates to this Convention approve, the Secretary of the Diocese and the Diocesan Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine send the following letter to the appropriate members of the Executive and Legislative branches of the United States Government and (with appropriate modifications) to the Government of the State of Maine.

"The Episcopal Diocese of Maine strongly requests that the Government of the United States enact legislation, enforce existing Federal regulations, and promote new regulations that will significantly reduce harmful atmospheric emissions and materially improve the world’s atmosphere. At stake are both the quality of our environment and the ability of the US political system to live within Earth’s limitations.

We recognize that the necessary legislation and regulations will have a disruptive impact upon U.S. lifestyles and standard of living, and that some individuals and institutions will suffer material harm. We believe that these costs are necessary, however, and we hereby state that as they apply to us, we are willing to accept them ourselves."

 

Explanation

Scientific analysis has determined beyond any reasonable doubt that present U.S. emission rates of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in combination with emissions from other nations are changing the world’s climate. Emissions of other substances are having widespread undesirable impact as well.

While most of the rest of the industrialized world has ratified the Kyoto Protocol and with that act committed themselves to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the US, the world’s largest emitter of these gases, has not. Thus the U.S. needs to adopt more stringent controls to reduce the damage we are doing to the environment and to set an example that other nations, particularly in the developing world, can follow.

Material improvement in emissions, however, will be disruptive and expensive, a fact that very few citizens want to face. Nevertheless we, as a society, must face it. As economists are fond of saying, "There is no such thing as a free lunch".

The critical issues to be addressed in considering the resolution are:

  1. Whether the Church should take a stand on such a highly charged political issue.
  1. Whether the Diocesan membership really is willing to accept the necessary costs.

As to the former, while the committee believes that the Church should be very careful about how it addresses political issues, we also believe that the above letter is appropriate for the Church.

  1. The country needs leadership in accepting the cost of environmental protection. In the view of this committee, the Church is uniquely equipped to provide that kind of leadership. And, for many reasons, the Episcopal Church is well equipped to take a leadership role among churches: as one example, the Governor’s office and both of our U.S. senators from Maine, during hearings on action-proposals this year, encouraged our committee (with the Maine Council of Churches) to continue our participation in environmental initiatives and proposals.
  1. An ethical imperative exists as well: Our present environmental policies are depriving the citizens of tomorrow of the environment they have a right to share. If we believe we should "Do unto others.... " we should work to assure that they have at least the same environment that we do. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that the most serious costs of climate change will fall on the world’s poorest people. Some living on low-lying island nations will be forced to evacuate their ancestral lands due to the rising seas.
  1. The letter called for in this proposal does not call for a political "taking-sides": Its primary message is that we in the Diocese of Maine are willing to accept the cost. It leaves open the political issues of what exactly should be done and who the winners and losers are.

Resolution # 4

RE: Canon 14: Of the Commission on Ministry
SUBMITTED BY: Chancellor of the Diocese of Maine

RESOLVED that Canon 14 be amended as follows:

CANON 14
Of the Commission on Ministry

Section 1.  There shall be in this Diocese a Commission on Ministry.

Section 2.  The duties of the Commission shall be those assigned to Diocesan Commissions on Ministry by the General Convention, and such other duties as the Bishop may appropriately assign. Function of the Commission. The Commission shall assist the Bishop with the implementation of Title III of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church as described therein.

Section 3. Membership of the Commission. The Commission shall consist of the following eleven members:

(1) The Bishop

(2) A Commission Chair, who shall be appointed by the Bishop and shall preside at Commission meetings.

(3) A Standing Committee liaison person, who shall be designated by the Standing Committee.

(4) The Chair, or person designated by the Chair, of each of the following Committees:

Committee on Baptismal Ministry

Committee on Holy Orders

Chaplains to Retired Clergy

Deacon Formation Program

Education For Ministry

Family of Clergy Wellness

Loring Fund

F.B. Wolf Fund

The Commission Chair shall serve at the pleasure of the Bishop. The Standing Committee liaison person shall serve at the pleasure of the Standing Committee. All other members shall be ex officio, serving while in the office designated or, if a designee of a Committee Chair, at the pleasure of that Committee Chair.

Section 4. Organization of the Commission. The Commission may adopt rules for its work, subject to the approval of the Bishop, and provided the same are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention and of this Diocese; and may appoint committees consisting of members of the Commission and/or persons to act on its behalf. The Commission may delegate to such committees duties or responsibilities assigned to it by the Canons of the General Convention, in whole or in part.

Explanation

Amendments to the National Canons in 2003 require that the Diocesan Canons "provide for the number of members, terms of office, and manner of selection to the Commission."

 

Substitute Resolution # 5

RE: Canon 11: Of Deputies to the General Convention

SUBMITTED BY The Rev. Michael Rowe

Strikeout = deleted wording

Underline = added wording

RESOLVED: that Canon 11 be amended as follows:

CANON 11

Of Deputies to the General Convention

Section 1.  At the Annual Convention in the year preceding the regular meeting of the General Convention, four Clerical and four Lay Deputies shall be elected to represent the Diocese in the General Convention.

Section 2.1  At the Annual Convention next before the regular meeting of in the twelve months preceding the date which is twelve months prior to the opening date of the next the General Convention, any vacancies which may then exist in the number of Clerical or Lay Deputies shall be filled by election.  At this same Convention or at the Annual Convention in the year preceding the regular meeting of the General Convention, the year of election to be determined by the Annual Convention, four Clerical and four Lay Provisional Deputies and four Clerical and four Lay Provisional Deputies shall be elected to represent the Diocese in the General Convention. , from which number vacancies. Vacancies in the office of Deputies shall be filled by the Ecclesiastical Authority, from among the Provisional Deputies. if such Authority shall determine that said vacancies cannot be filled by election at an Annual Convention.  A vacancy shall exist if a Presbyter having been elected a Deputy shall cease to be regularly engaged in the active ministry as described in Article III 3(1) of the Constitution of the Diocese of Maine.

Section 3.2  All elections provided by this Canon shall be by ballot unless otherwise agreed by unanimous consent.

Explanation

The National Canons require that deputies to General Convention be elected not later than twelve months prior to the opening date of General Convention. This amendment corrects a technical problem with the timing of our Annual Convention, in the fall, and the General Convention, in the summer.

 

 

Resolution Guidelines:

ü       Resolutions must be titled and include the name of the submitting body

ü       Standard Resolution language is required using “Resolved” clauses

ü       The "Resolved" section must clearly indicate the kind of action required and who is to perform the action

ü       What results are expected and when

ü       The method of reporting the results to whomever should be accountable

ü       The source and amount of funding if money will be necessary to accomplish the resolution's purpose

ü       A short explanation section may follow the "Resolves"

ü       Please indicate a contact person with phone number and email address

ü       Resolutions are numbered in the order that they are received in the diocesan office

ü       Resolutions may be considered out of numerical order due to workshop scheduling

ü       Email resolutions to Melinda DeWolfe at mdewolfe@diomaine.org

 return to the Convention Page

return to the Diocese of Maine Page