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“It seems like no one knows what ‘Assessments’ are actually used for!” said Archdeacon Pryor to the Executive Committee at their meeting in November, “so that means we need to make a better system that makes sense for everyone.” Because the Diocese is a co-operative corporation with each parish as a member, there are many things that we can work together to accomplish better rather than each parish acting in an independent way. We need to better communicate that to our parishes, especially their vestries and wardens.

A big portion of the annual assessment rate goes for mission and ministry within the diocese: things like paying for clergy in the smaller communities, providing travel to send someone to do training with a new lay leader in those communities, and the youth work of the diocese. “The outdated term ‘assessment’ is going away.” says Archdeacon Pryor. Starting in April, all churches will get to contribute a 10% “Mission Tithe” to support this mission work of the Diocese, while self-supporting and assisted parishes will also contribute an 8% “Fair Share” toward the costs of running the Synod Office. “It’s a clear and easy system, each treasurer can easily figure out what next year’s monthly rates will be!”