The poet Ogden Nash contended that the worst kind of sins were the sins of omission. Sins of commission, he argued, often involved some degree of fun, while sins of omission were generally no fun at all.
“Where,” he asked, rhetorically, “is the fun in shouting: ‘The next round of unpaid bills is on me’?”
Sadly, I can attest to the truth of Nash’s observation. Bishop John Vaughan’s letter, printed below, was written partly because I and too many of my fellow clergy this year overlooked our obligations to ask you to support financially the Anglican Church’s national organization.
Our excuse, of course, is that it has been a terribly busy year, what with the reorganization of the diocese, the election of a bishop, and welcoming six new parishes and whole slew of new clergy into the diocese.
But excuses, however good, don’t provide the wherewithal to enable the Anglican Church in America to fulfill its national and international obligations—not least the church’s work in the mission fields both at home and abroad.
In tough economic times like this we tend be more than usually absorbed with our own problems here at home. We often overlook the far greater difficulties being experienced by fellow Anglicans in far needier parts of the world such as Africa.
Certainly, in these economically challenging times the help the national church can give looks modest. But in the Third World a dollar goes a very long way indeed.
The Anglican Church in America asks each individual member to contribute $30 a year to help the church fulfill its vital national and international obligations.
I hope that at this the most joyous and giving time of the Christian year the members and friends of St. Stephen’s will find in their heart to give $30 to further the church’s important work.
Naturally, there will some who cannot afford the full $30, in which case please send what you can afford. In parts of the world, where a church can be built for a couple of hundred dollars, it is amazing the good even a small financial gift can do.
Please send you check to St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, 11856 Mays Chapel Road, Timonium, MD 21093 and note on it: “For the National Church.” Thank you and God bless you all. GUY HAWTIN✠, Rector
My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Next Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent, begins the New Year for the Diocese and the Church. For the Diocese, and for many individual parishes, it has been both a difficult and a blessed year. In 2012, much of that difficulty for parishes and the Diocese stemmed from dealing with the difficulties and uncertainties of our struggling economy. Many of us were afflicted financially, emotionally and spiritually during the past year. On the blessings side of the ledger, though, the Diocese made great strides to return to normal operation, and to heal from the division and discord that resulted from the Ordinariate. We were fortunate to have great support from our Presiding Bishop, and were able to elect a Suffragan Bishop. Our ranks of clergy have grown, and we have men with vocations back on their path. God willing, we will elect a Diocesan Bishop at our upcoming Synod in February.
In the year to come, the priority for myself and the Standing Committee will be the reinforcement and growth of our parishes. We will work to fortify our existing clergy, and, where possible, supplement the clergy in key parishes. With a return to our primary mission within the Diocese and each parish, we hope to swell the number of brothers and sisters who will join us as we worship our Lord and serve His people.
Before we can move forward in the New Year, however, we have to finish the business of this current year. For the Diocesan office, that business includes both the payment of our National Assessment and adjusting our own finances to account for both a substantial increase of travel and travel expense. I know that many parishes have also struggled with diminished giving and higher expenses. In the coming year, it is our goal to return the Diocese to a true system of tithing for support of parishes, the Diocese and the National Church. For the year past, I am reaching out to you for your kind assistance in completing our commitments of giving, and to consider increasing the support of the Church as a consideration in your Advent meditations.
I am asking each pastor to bring the 2012 National Assessment current by Christmas. That assessment should not come at the expense of parish operations, and so by extension, I am asking each parish to have two special second collections during Advent for the purpose supporting Diocesan travel for the coming year. Finally, I ask you all to pray about tithing in the coming year. Tithing is not only our Biblical commitment to support God’s Church, but it is a source of blessing to the family that is tithing as well. In this world, it seems counter-intuitive that financial peace can come from increasing our giving during stressful times and tight budgets, but we know from history and by the promise of our Lord in Scripture, that the family that tithes is blessed in both financial matters and spiritual peace.
I will be keeping each of you in my own prayers and meditations throughout Advent, and look forward to sharing the blessings of the coming year with you. ✠Bishop John
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