Zoom gathering on Thursday, July 17

All members of the diocese are invited to join Bishop Paula Clark and representatives of the Diocesan Finance Committee on Thursday July 17 at 7 pm for a presentation and discussion about the 2026 diocesan budget process, budget priorities, historic trends, and current realities.

The 2026 budget process began in June and will continue throughout the summer. While that process is underway, the July 17 meeting provides an opportunity to gather and discuss the broad financial landscape of the diocese, ask questions, and learn more about how the work of the diocese is funded.

The Diocesan Finance Committee, co-chaired by Pat Cornelius-Woods and David Arch, spent much of the 2025 budget process working to understand “all the pieces” of the financial picture, as referenced in a September 2024 story.

For the 2026 process, Cornelius-Woods and Arch, along with Diocesan Comptroller Rebecca Elfring-Roberts, will continue to help map a path for the diocese toward “budget self-sufficiency,” as named in the September 2024 article. At the same time, the committee is investing in efforts such as the July 17 gathering to increase transparency and raise understanding of how the existing financial structures and diocesan canons both inform and constrain the work that needs to be done.

“We’re continuing to address both short-term needs and long-term challenges, but with increased clarity and guidance coming from the preliminary results of the Strategic Planning Process,” said Cornelius-Woods. “While both the budget process and the strategic planning process run concurrently, we are gaining insights and understanding that help guide us in 2026, 2027 and beyond.”

In August, the Finance Committee will preview the draft 2026 budget and gather feedback prior to its review by Diocesan Council and Bishop & Trustees in September. The approved budget will be presented to the Diocesan Convention in November.

Register to attend the July 17 Zoom meeting, which will be recorded and shared, and mark your calendars for these upcoming diocesan budget events:

• Budget Review Session: Thursday, August 28 at 7 pm

• Pre-Convention Budget Presentation: Monday, November 10 at 7 pm