By Glenn Hannigan
The SoutheastJurisdiction of The United Methodist Church, meeting at Lake Junaluska, N.C., overwhelmingly approved a slashing of its budget for the next quadrennial.
Jim Allen, chairman of the SEJ Committeeon Finance and Administration, presented a budget for 2013-16 that is half the size of the budget passed four years ago. With few questions and little debate, the SEJ approved a budget of $4.4 million for the next four years. It represents a 50 percent cut from the $8.8 million budget approved for 2009-12.
“We have eliminated operational funds going to agencies,” Allen said. “And we will continue to cut back on expenses as we move forward.”
Allen’s presentation, and announcement of deep cuts to the jurisdiction’s budget, was met with applause across the meeting room. Allen said, even though the SEJ had approved an $8.8 million budget in 2008, that the jurisdiction had already begun trimming its expenses and was projecting to only spend $7.1 million in the 2009-2012 quadrennial.
Allen said that CF&A is working toward trimming an additional 50 percent from the budget for 2017-20, with the goal of significantly cutting the apportionments paid by every conference. Bar far the most significant savings come from paying off debt of Lake Junaluska. The jurisdiction projects spending $5.7 million on the debt for 2009-2012 but isbudgeting $2 million for 2013-2016.
During its Wednesday evening session, the SEJ also approved apportionments for 2013-16 that cut payments in half for every conference.
Apportionments approved by SEJ
2009-2012 2013-2016
Alabama-West Florida $467,039 $233,519
Florida $1,034,906 $517,453
Holston $525,940 $262,970
Kentucky $433,969 $216,984
Memphis $315,060 $157,530
Mississippi $519,543 $259,771
North Alabama $523,984 $261,992
North Carolina $613,555 $306,777
North Georgia $1,029,218 $514,609
Red Bird $1,242 $621
South Carolina $680,747 $340,373
South Georgia $460,827 $230,413
Tennessee $336,862 $168,431
Virginia $1,001,928 $500,964
Western N. Carolina $925,495 $462,747
In other action, the SEJ elected Jennifer Burton of Western NorthCarolina as its next treasurer.
Glenn Hannigan is editor of the North Georgia Advocate. This article ran in the Friday, July 21, edition of the SEJ Daily Christian Advocate.