Released February 20, 2025 | Ver en Español
1. Why are these changes being made?
This realignment was directed by Executive Council in 2023 through a resolution that directed “the presiding officers to conduct strategic adaptive realignment of our institutional structures through such tools as an audit of current Episcopal Church staff and Executive Council responsibilities.” In addition, the 2025-2027 General Convention budget, passed by Executive Council in November, requires us to reduce staff costs by $3.6 million over the triennium.
2. Why are so many jobs being eliminated or restructured? The expense savings must total much more than $3.6 million for the triennium.
Our goal for the realignment is not solely financial. By identifying priorities for the church center staff’s work and restructuring to support dioceses more fully, we believe that we can help The Episcopal Church make an even stronger and more effective witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In some areas, we will pivot to focusing on investing in strong diocesan programs and initiatives and making them available to the entire church. In other areas, we will be trying some experiments to see what might work in today’s church, learning from what we try, and building on what succeeds. Both of these new ways of working will require resources beyond the savings required by the triennial budget.
3. How were these decisions made?
The process started with the election of Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe, who was elected by the House of Bishops on the first ballot with the expectation that he would realign the church center staff and structures to serve dioceses more fully.
In September, as presiding bishop-elect, Bishop Sean contracted with Compass, the culture and leadership development division of staffing firm Insight Global, to support the realignment process. Since then, staff, Executive Council members, and bishops have participated in the process through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and meetings.
Learn more from Episcopal News Service.
4. What happens to ethnic ministries, and to the church’s commitment to racial reconciliation, creation care, and evangelism?
The Rev. Lester V. Mackenzie, who became chief of mission program on Nov. 1, is leading the team of ethnic missioners and staff devoted to racial reconciliation, creation care, and evangelism and is exploring new ways to make these ministries even more responsive to the needs of dioceses. Our commitments to racial, social, and environmental justice and to ethnic ministries remains undiminished.
5. What are the plans for Christian formation and church planting?
Evangelism and the formation of new Christians is central to our vision and the tenets of our faith. In this realigned structure, we will pilot new ways to invest in strong formation and evangelism resources developed by dioceses. We also anticipate forming an active partnership with Forward Movement that will make our collective witness across The Episcopal Church even stronger.
Our commitment to church planting and redevelopment is undiminished, and in the months to come, we will be reorganizing this ministry and the ways it supports and serves our dioceses.
6. What are the budgetary implications of all these changes?
Our initial, rough estimates are that we will realize a salary savings of about $2.13 million per year beginning in 2026; those savings will be phased in during 2025 as various staff members retire and as severance and retirement incentives are paid. This estimate also includes rough projected costs for positions that we know we will need to add in the coming months.
7. Are there going to be more staff reductions?
We expect this to be the most significant phase of the realignment. However, we will continue to study the structure and organization of departments as some were not involved in this initial realignment study. We are seeking outside advice to assist those departments in defining their priorities.
8. How large will the staff be once all the changes are made?
The budget approved by the General Convention in June 2024 was based on a then-current full-time equivalent staff of 143 people. We anticipate that the staff, after all departures, retirements, and new hires, will include about 110 employees.