“Excellence in worship, sufficient pastoral care, and adequate administration.” Now retired as director of congregational development for the Episcopal Church, the Rev. Charles N. Fulton III asserts these three things as essential for growth and vitality of our church communities. The last of these – administration – often proves a stumbling block for smaller congregations, and we in Newark are a diocese consisting mostly of small congregations.
The challenge is especially significant when there is a change in leadership and, thus, a learning curve to ascend. A new warden or treasurer – let alone a new clergy person – needs to learn where to find information for a parochial report, how to enroll someone in online Safe Church training, and when the annual deadlines fall.
Yet there are some basic management responsibilities that are essential to congregational life. At its April 2013 meeting, Diocesan Council reaffirmed the need for every congregation to make and reconcile a diocesan pledge, submit a parochial report, conduct an audit, submit a health-insurance survey, and have those required complete Safe Church training. In order to encourage compliance with these indispensable duties, the Council also affirmed long-standing diocesan policy: monies will not be released from any diocesan grant fund until a congregation has fulfilled its obligations, nor may a congregation participate in the Church Website Project without such certification.
Your diocesan staff, the Equipping Congregations Action Team of Diocesan Council, and the HR Committee stand ready to assist should you need help. Here is a list of the annual requirements, with links to forms and information:
- Safe Church Training: Ongoing
- Parochial Report: Due March 1
- Audit: Due September 1
- Diocesan Pledge: Submit December 1; Reconcile - timely response
- Health-Insurance Survey: Due December 1
The Rev. Dr. J. Barrington Bates, Chair
Bishop’s Advisory Committee on Human Resources and Benefits
revdocbates@gmail.com
