St. John’s Episcopal Church, Bedford

18th January, 2006.

To all Vestries in the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia

Dear Wardens and Vestry members,

You will be aware of the current financial crisis in the Diocese. At this moment there is a shortfall of approximately $114,000 in the operating budget for 2006. The Bishop is faced with the daunting task of dramatically reducing expenditure, and it seems likely that the areas that will be most affected are programs – including youth activities – and staffing. Since to do either on a large scale would seriously affect the work of the diocese, an alternative plan is being considered. This would involve balancing the budget by opening a line of credit for $114,000.

The Vestry of St. John’s Church, Bedford, is anxious that the programs and the staff should not be cut, except where to do so would not seriously affect the work of the Diocese. Equally, we are not in favor of saddling the Diocese with the burden of servicing a debt of such magnitude.

St. John’s, Bedford, is not a wealthy parish, and we have already made an act of faith by increasing our pledge to the Diocese for 2006 by 5%. Nevertheless, after careful deliberation, we have decided to make an additional one-time donation of $5,000 to the Diocese. The purpose of this letter is to ask you to search your hearts, with prayer and careful deliberation, and to determine whether you, too, can make a similar sacrifice. While we understand that you may not have superfluous cash available, you might well be able to plan special fund-raisers to help meet this desperate challenge.

We would be happy to share our thoughts with you on this issue but, most importantly, we are anxious that you should respond as quickly and as generously as possible to this crisis.

Your brethren in Christ,

The Rev. G. Thomas Mustard
Rector

Michael R. Rieley
Senior Warden

Michael W. Cross
Junior Warden

Copy to: Clergy of the Diocese