Friends in Christ,
I’m writing to update you on the process to redefine our mission share formula, one way by which we as diocese are leaning into our new mission and priorities of communication, flourishing congregations, and stewardship.
Process Background
Last month, Diocesan Council received a report from the Mission Share Formula Review Committee. The committee’s mandate was to craft a formula for mission share that is easy to use, clear, transparent, sustainable enough to last for several years, and an expression of our diocesan values while maintaining revenue at the current level.
This group researched formulas in other dioceses, built a number of spreadsheets, held table conversations at diocesan convention last November, and presented two forums at the end of April (video and materials from which are available here). Thank you to all who contributed your time and perspective for this important conversation.
The committee considered several models for mission share that are in use around The Episcopal Church. Each method has advantages and disadvantages, and every model the committee explored has some congregations paying more in the future than they will in 2025. The committee strove to make increases as fair and equitable as possible.
One intriguing idea that participants raised in the April forums was a model of marginal rates, similar to income tax rates. Following that input, the committee ran several different scenarios using a marginal rate structure, and unfortunately they could not get the numbers to add up to the target total. The committee has concluded that a marginal model is not feasible in our diocese at this time.
Diocesan Council Vote on Proposed Redefined Formula
The committee unanimously recommended that Diocesan Council adopt a formula of four tiers with mission share rates rising as a congregation’s revenue increases – “Model B” as presented in the April forums – with a glide path for growing congregations as they move up to a higher tier. Funds would be directed to be set aside in the diocesan budget to offset mission share for congregations that move up a tier. This recommendation raises mission share modestly for the least-resourced and best-resourced congregations while decreasing mission share for congregations in the middle; the glide path for congregations that move up a tier helps to encourage growth in our churches.
At their meeting on May 10th, the Diocesan Council voted to accept the recommendation, the content of which you can find in the minutes from our meeting. This decision allows diocesan staff and committees to prepare for this switch and forwards the decision for ratification by the diocesan convention.
This new formula is based on each congregation’s total non-restricted revenue, the sum of Lines 3 and 5 of the 2024 Parochial Report.
|
When total non-restricted revenue is: |
Mission Share is: |
|---|---|
|
Less than $200,000 |
5% of total non-restricted revenue |
|
Between $200,001 and $350,000 |
8% of total non-restricted revenue |
|
Between $350,001 and $1,000,000 |
12% of total non-restricted revenue |
|
More than $1,000,001 |
13% of total non-restricted revenue |
Convention Preview
The Budget Committee will now begin drafting the 2026 budget for our diocese based on this formula. The mission share formula proposal will come before the diocesan convention this November as a resolution for a yes or no vote, as will the diocesan budget. In other words, the final decision on whether to adopt this revised formula is ultimately up to the convention – the highest governing body of our diocese.
About Mission Share
“Mission Share” is the financial contribution each congregation makes to our diocesan mission to embody the Gospel of Jesus Christ and share in God’s transformation of our communities with the Holy Spirit as our guide. Mission share provides about half of the revenue for DSO’s annual budget, with the remainder coming from our endowments, including the William Cooper Procter Fund.
Mission share supports:
- Diocesan staff positions, including the canon to the ordinary, canon for congregations, canon for communications, canon for finance and operations, missioner for stewardship, transition minister, missioner for lifelong formation, and administrative support staff
- The diocesan website, eConnections newsletters, and other communication tools we use to connect our diocese to one another and our communities
- Our community of deacons
- The diocesan convention
- Our deputation to the churchwide general convention
- The ordination process, from background checks to ordination celebrations
- LGBTQ+ ministry
Other aspects of our diocesan ministry, such as Beloved Community and diocesan residents (our curacy program), receive support from endowments.
With Gratitude
I hold deep gratitude for the generous contribution of time and expertise by our Mission Share Review Committee: the Rev. Darren Elin, the Rev. Gia Hayes-Martin (chair), Ms. Nadya Richardson, and Mr. Jim Rudd, with staff liaisons the Rev. Canon Jodi Baron and Ms. Susan Byrnside. They led a careful, studied, and transparent process to consider a complex question; please join me in giving thanks for their leadership!
Yours in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Kristin Uffelman White
Bishop, Diocese of Southern Ohio
