Working towards setting the new triennium budget, the Program, Budget and Finance Committee heard from more than 40 bishops, deputies and visitors in a priorities hearing today.
Janie Stevens, diocesan missioner for Christian Formation and Deputy Frankie Rodriquez, rector of Calvary, Richmond spoke at the standing room only gathering, asking the committee to keep lifelong Christian formation a priority in their deliberations. Others spoke in favor of the Millennium Development Goals, youth work and leadership development, especially with indigenous peoples.
“Without Christian formation as a priority, we don’t have to worry about having General Convention in 20 years,” Rodriquez said. Stevens called the lifelong nature of formation “the core of all the Church’s work.”
Stevens has worked for more than five years to help develop a charter for lifelong learning which will be presented as a resolution by the Standing Committee for Lifelong Learning to PB&F. Originally funded at $190,000, Stevens is concerned that the proposal has been cut to $93,000 and would like to see the additional funding reinstated.
“I hope what they heard today influences the committee to keep this as a priority,” Stevens said.
The Charter provides a framework for intentional lifelong learning and encourages active participation by all generations. It calls upon the Church to advocate Christian formation through leadership, resources and support for all ages and all levels of the church.
Keane Akao, a member of the Diocese of Hawaii and vice chair of the standing committee concurred. He said the issue would next come before PB&F during a spending hearing then to conference committee of PB&F that would determine whether or not the resolution is funded in the final budget.
PEALL, Proclaiming Education for All, a group funded by the last General Convention, developed the charter based on initial work from many diocesan Christian formation directors.
“Previous Christian formation resolutions have become unfunded mandates,” Stevens said, “and we hope that the committee makes a strong statement about the importance of this work by providing the funding for it now.”
Akao said, “It is the core of who we, the Church, are called to be.”
“Our children will have faith if we do,” Stevens said.
