Letter from Harold Barrett Robinson to rectors and wardens of the Diocese of Western New York, December 9, 1973

Item

Title: Letter from Harold Barrett Robinson to rectors and wardens of the Diocese of Western New York, December 9, 1973
Description: Typewritten letter from Bishop of Western New York Harold Barrett Robinson to Diocese of Western New York rectors and wardens concerning the 1974 pledge to the Diocese, December 9, 1973.
Subject: Buffalo (N.Y.) -- Church history; African Americans -- New York (State) -- Buffalo
Creator: Robinson, Harold Barrett
Source: St. Philip's Episcopal Church records (MS-0269)
Publisher: State University of New York at Buffalo. University Libraries
Date: 1973-12-09
Contributor: State University of New York at Buffalo. University Archives
Format: application/pdf
Language: en-US
Type: Text
Identifier: MS-0269_10_2_006
Date Created: 2023-05-15
Extent: 21.6x28.1cm; 2pp
Transcription: Diocese of Western New York1114 Delaware AvenueBuffalo, New York 14209716-881-0660Dear Rectors and Wardens:I write you concerning the pledge to the Diocese for 1974 from yourcongregation.Each year you solicit the members of your congregation asking for a pledgeof financial support. You attempt to inform your people of the needs of thechurch, urge them to be generous and inspiring them to be faithful stewards ofthe gifts God has given them. It can be very frustrating when people fail torecognize those needs and shirk their responsibility as members of the Church.The Diocese has a similar relationship to its parishes. The Diocese urgesits parishes to be faithful stewards of the gifts they receive from theirparishioners and to remember others outside the parish boundaries. It can bevery frustrating when parishes fail to recognize Diocesan needs and shirk theirresponsibilities as members of the Diocese. The same must be kept in mind whenthe Diocese considers its pledge to the National Church. I am suggesting thatthe Vestry, when making a parish pledge to the Diocese, tell itself the samesort of thing it has been telling its own parishioners. Likewise, the Diocesemust "practice what it preaches" when it signs a pledge to the National Church.At our last Convention, our Diocesan Treasurer commented that the Diocese ofWestern New York was in better financial condition than it had ever been in hisown personal experience. The Diocese is financially solvent, not because we haveample funding, but because we have trimmed expenses in order .to live within ourincome. We have not been able to pay our "fair share" to the National Church.New work, involving added expenditures have been delayed. Being solvent is nogreat virtue if such solvency results in stagnation.At the same Convention, the Diocese voted to increase the minimum clergysalaries and to become more of a "servant Church", striving to meet the unmetneeds in our communities. Translated into practice, this means increasedexpenditures for both the parish and the Diocese. It also means that theindividual parishioners are supporting, through t heir pledge to the Diocese,many worthwhile programs.From 1968 to 1972, pledges to the Diocese decreased each year from a highof $335,000. to a low in 1972 of $277,000. - a decrease over a five year periodof some $57,000. - during an inflationary spiral! Last year (1973) we reversedthat trend with an increase in pledges amounting to $4,500. It would be tragicif we were to fall back now. With this in mind, I am asking each parish topledge at leas amucsh ats they pledged in 1973 with the earnest hope that theyp.2will be able to continue this new trend by increasing their pledge for 1974.I am confident that you will take all of this and more into considerationwhen you decide upon your pledge to the Diocese for next year. The enclosedpledge form (sent only to the clergy) should be returned to the Diocesan officeno later than January 3, 1974. We must have them by this date in order toformulate the 1974 budget.I am deeply grateful for your support during the last three years as yourDiocesan. I continue to be encouraged by signs of renewal and vitality andinvite you to share my enthusiasm.Faithfully yours,Harold Barrett RobinsonBishop of Western New YorkHBR/wEnc.November 13, 1973
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Item sets: St. Philip's Episcopal Church collection

Media: MS-0269_10_2_006.pdf