EPISCOPAL PARISH ON CHOPPING BLOCK. CHURCH MAY CLOSE FOR LACK OF FUNDS

By Jean Torkelson

Rocky Mountain News

July 27, 2004

A new Episcopal parish in Jefferson County may close in January because pledges to the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado have plunged 25 percent, which is nearly $500,000 this year.

Traditionalists say the drop in donations is meant to send a message to the bishop to stop backing same-sex blessings.

"New Life Church has no money in the budget from the diocese for next year - zero," said the Rev. Chuck Reischman, pastor of New Life Episcopal Church, 11195 W. Belleview Ave.

New Life stands to lose $147,000 in funding in 2005, according to an overview of the proposed budget sent last week to the diocese's standing committee by its chief financial officer, Bob Leaman.

New Life is one of two "start-up" churches. The other, Briargate in Colorado Springs, faces a $50,000 loss.

Leaman laid out details of a slimmed-down $1.6 million budget last week for the committee, an advisory body to the bishop.

The budget will be voted on at the diocesan convention in October.

In order to erase a projected 10 percent deficit of $160,000 and balance the budget, the diocese would have to pull support for Reischman's church as well as Briargate.

In addition, Leaman wrote, "assume a payroll freeze at all levels" for 2005. He added that revenue from congregations' pledges will be flat next year, too.

The diocese had expected nearly $1.8 million in pledges but will likely receive less than $1.3 million this year, according to figures distributed to the committee.

The diocese said Leaman was on vacation. He could not be reached for comment.

Traditionalists blame the decline in giving on the Episcopal Church USA's endorsement last year for openly gay bishop Gene Robinson and same-sex blessings.

Colorado Bishop Rob O'Neill also supports gay rights. But he's moved slowly in implementing them because of conservatives' ire, which they are demonstrating by reducing their financial pledges to the diocese. O'Neill is out of town this week and did not return calls to his cell phone.

"It is absolutely unprecedented to cut the funding of a mission church that has become successful" like New Life, said the Rev. Don Armstrong, a conservative leader and member of the standing committee.

The 50-member New Life church would have gone in the red in September, but received $11,500 in emergency funding from the Episcopal Foundation, said Reischman. Now, he said, "We can keep the lights on till Christmas."

Reischman was brought to Colorado from Ohio in 2001 by now-retired Bishop Jerry Winterrowd, who sought out Reischman and his wife, Gina, because they had founded a vibrant youth ministry, Joshua Force.

Winterrowd wanted the Reischmans to fill St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, which lost its pastor and most of the congregation in 2000. They were among the first wave of Episcopalians to leave over the issue of expanding homosexual rights in the church.

The Reischmans agreed to come to Colorado to start New Life Church. They also have continued to run Joshua Force.

Reischman said his church is healthy and growing this year - which is why he hopes the diocese can find a way to continue its support. Thanks to the diocese's current funding, New Life was able to distribute 5,000 information packets in the neighborhood, which yielded 13 new visitors last Sunday.

"We find ourselves in the middle of a battle that the whole denomination finds itself in," Reischman said. "But this is a vibrant, growing congregation, and new families are coming every week and are excited about being at a Christ-centered church. Somehow, we will find a way to continue. I just don't know what that 'way' will look like."

Budget Summaries for Episcopal Diocese of Colorado

2003 Actual Results

Total revenues: $1,868,496

Total expenses: $2,037,929

Deficit: $169,532

2004 Revised Budget

Total revenues: $1,650,525

Total expenses: $1,796,510

Projected deficit: $145,985

2005 Proposed Budget (after adjustments)

Total revenues: $1,625,200

Total expenses: $1,649,200

Projected deficit: $24,000

Source: Episcopal Diocese of Colorado

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