Stewardship Corner

by Matushka Mary Buletza Breton, Diocesan Treasurer

“Glory to Jesus Christ!” That is our Orthodox greeting when we see each other and enter into our homes and our churches. It is also the main purpose of our lives here on earth—to give glory and thanks to Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ. Every breath we take and every move we make should have this as its end purpose. We give our Time to God in prayer and doing good works in His name. We use our God-given Talents – whether we have received five talents, or two, or one – towards building up His kingdom here on earth. And we give and use our Treasures to ease others’ burdens and to underwrite the operation of Christ’s Church on earth.

During our All American Council in Atlanta last July, those gathered overwhelmingly agreed to change the funding model of our national Church from a per capita method to a tithing or percentage method. As of January 1, 2016, all Dioceses are contributing based on a percentage of their unrestricted receipts.

Currently, only a few DNYNJ parishes “tithe” to the Diocese. Over the course of the spring and summer, we will educate our parishes and answer questions regarding the transition to proportionate giving. At the 2016 Diocesan Assembly, a resolution will be proposed that will direct the transition. As of January 1, 2017, all parishes in the DNYNJ will begin to remit assessments to the Diocese based on a percentage method, versus the current $145 per capita method. We are using the remaining time during 2016 to continue to discuss this transition and work with the parish councils to understand and prepare to implement this change.

In the coming months, we plan to communicate with every parish about its transition, including preliminary calculations. In order to make this exercise most effective, it is imperative that the Archbishop’s office receive current annual financial statements (income statement and balance sheet) from each parish.

In June 2016, I will presented this topic at the three annual deanery Parish Council Conferences. Continuing the 2015 Diocesan Assembly workshop theme, we discussed this transition, answered specific questions, and perhaps even repeated the “role plays” from the laity workshops at last year’s Diocesan Assembly.

Some people have expressed fear and concern over this transition from per capita to proportionate giving. Often, fear of the unknown is much worse than the unknown itself. In most parish situations reviewed so far, the tithing calculations, 10% of unrestricted operating income, are very close to the per capita assessment figures.

We need to be cheerful givers at every level of the Church, giving with grateful and thankful hearts and not out of obligation or to satisfy the rules. The Diocesan Council and I will be available to work with all parishes towards this end. Please join us in praying that this transition will be smooth and embraced by all.

Please email specific questions to Matushka Mary at MatMaryB@gmail.com .