The 2022 diocesan audit, more properly titled “The Financial Statements for the Diocese of Rhode Island as of December 31, 2022, with comparative totals for 2021, and the Independent Auditor’s Report” is here: 2022 Audit for Diocese of Rhode Island.
2021 Diocesan Audit and Financial Statements
The 2021 diocesan audit, more properly titled “The Financial Statements for the Diocese of Rhode Island as of December 31, 2021, with comparative totals for 2020, and the Independent Auditor’s Report” is here: 2021 Audit for Diocese of Rhode Island
2023 Diocesan Budget
The 2023 budget for the Diocese of Rhode Island as voted on at the Diocesan Convention of November 5, 2022 is here: 2023 Diocesan Budget
2022 Diocesan Budget
The 2022 budget for the Diocese of Rhode Island as voted on at the Diocesan Convention of November 6, 2021 is here: 2022 Diocesan Budget
Workshop materials from Leadership Institute on March 23, 2019
A ‘Parish Legacy Society’ as Planned Giving
How to create and nurture a Legacy Society, honoring those who name your church in an estate, a will or trust. Hear success stories about this and learn some innovative approaches to planned giving.
Click here for Planned Giving and other resources
Vestry 101
So … you are a new member of the vestry! What ARE your responsibilities related to the vision, leadership and fiduciary health of your church? Get support and training to become wise and empowered leaders, with practical nuts and bolts to make your vestry experience effective – and even fun!
Episcopal Church Foundation- Vital Practices
Roles and Responsibilities of Elected Leaders
_Vestry_101 Vestry Papers Issue
Improving your church’s online presence
What are prospective visitors looking for when they check out your church online? Learn about current best practices for your congregation’s Facebook page and website, and some things to avoid. We’ll evaluate examples of great and not-so great websites in other parts of the country.
Wellness check for your church’s online presence
Online assets ownership worksheet
Resources for enhancing your online presence
A sample media and video policy with release form
Copyright Guidelines for Churches
Wardens Face Time with Bishop Knisely
Senior and Junior wardens, receive guidance and support about this crucial lay leadership office in our changing churches. What IS your role – as chief ecclesiastical officers – with the congregation, clergy and staff?
Show Me the Money: Old and New Guidelines for Treasurers
Church treasurers, you are not alone – so don’t do it alone! Money managers: Learn healthy practices of transparency and fiduciary responsibility essential to being a safe church. Also find out about potential sources of revenue — grants, loans and diocesan resources.
HR: Hiring, Firing, Retiring … and Everything in Between
Hiring, firing and retiring can be done professionally and with grace. This session features education and troubleshooting for church leaders in the basics of personnel and human resource management for church staff.
Episcopal Church Foundation-Vital Practices
Model_Personnel_Handbook_for_Parishes — from the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Community-Building in an Age of Isolation and Division
Now, more than ever, our church has something urgently-needed and beautiful to offer society. How might we build new forms of intentional community and fellowship to offer healing to a divided world? Learn some fun ideas to bring people together and have a ball!
All Our Children-Partnerships between Church and Schools
Pastoral Care for Baby-Boomers and More
Pastoral care, with appropriate training and guidance, is a ministry of all disciples of Christ. Learn how to create, nurture and equip healthy congregational care teams. Train lay leaders now to meet the needs of aging “boomers” – and all generations.
Starting a Lay Pastoral Care Ministry Team
Eucharistic Visitors (NOTE: order this resource at www.LeaderResources.org/EV, select “pay by check,” use in your church name and address — the staff will see that you are a RI church and will zero it out so you can just ignore the invoice. This only works for the Episcopal Churches in RI. Call 800-941-2218 if you have questions or concerns.
Publicizing and organizing events in the digital age
What’s the difference between digital and paper-based approaches to publicizing events, and how can they work together? What determines what events get publicized in diocesan publications? Bring examples of particularly successful and creative strategies you’ve used to add to our discussion.
Audit information for congregations
Each congregation’s annual audit must be submitted to the diocesan Finance Office each year by SEPTEMBER 1.
Here are the forms you need:
Churches are not required to pay an audit firm to conduct an audit. We encourage you to “swap” members of your church with a neighboring church to form audit teams of about four members with both members of your church and of another church. Audit teams should familiar with the Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs (2019 Edition).
For assistance or more information contact the Diocesan Finance Director, Joan DeCelles (401-274-4500)
Fiduciary Responsibility Checklist
This checklist itemizes the practices that the Vestry or Bishop’s Committee of a church are responsible for overseeing to ensure that the congregation’s finances are managed in compliance with federal law, church canons, and diocesan expectations. The officers (Priest, Sr. Warden, Treasurer and Clerk) are legally required under the federal Sarbanes-Oxley law to adhere to these practices. The rector/vicar of the parish is also responsible for ensuring compliance, under the requirements of Title IV of the Canons of the Episcopal Church.
Download the Fiduciary Responsibility Checklist
Clergy Compensation and Benefits
Each fall the Diocesan Council approves the Clergy Salary and Benefits Minimum Requirements for the coming year. Congregations are required to meet these minimums at the beginning of a priest’s tenure but may, of course, offer more than the minimum. Congregations are expected to provide a minimum 2.5% raise annually.
The Diocesan Council has set the mandated clergy compensation and benefits for 2024. For this year, we will use the same criteria for defining church types as we did for the past year until further information is available form the National Church. Diocesan Council has asked the Compensation and Benefits Committee to continue to hold conversations about what criteria to use to classify our churches in the future.
Download Clergy Compensation & Benefits:
2024 Clergy-Compensation-guide
2024 Clergy-Compensation-and-Benefit-Rates by church
Diocesan Health Dental Rates 2024
|
The employee contribution is 17% for both clergy and lay persons. We will continue to look for ways to maintain quality health coverage options which do not overburden parishes or clergy with undue costs. If a parish has a clergy spouse who is Medicare eligible, please contact Joan DeCelles at Diocesan House for possible alternatives.
|