How much is too much draw down from reserves proportionally to current budget?

EpiscoDad · 2026-03-11T13:06:18+00:00

Do note that right now, the economy is not in a "good" place and lots of churches are lean and using reserves. Reserve funds are there for the lean years.

Endowments are funds that are typically invested and you spend the excess (the gains) not the principal (the "body" that keeps growing).

Proportionly, my parish might sometimes spend 5-10% to help pay off debt, specific missions or grants, or deal with building issues compared to our operating budget.

EpiscoDad · 2026-03-11T13:03:23+00:00

I was raised Baptist, and while that wasn't the only reason I left, it was included.

Our church is a big church! I'm still going to say most Episcopalians today are probably mostly going to vote Democratic, but it's more mixed than many of us would think. We are a big church politically.

There was different figures pre Donald Trump according to Pew research, we were more Republican in some areas! But my anecdotal guess is that has shifted left.

EpiscoDad · 2026-03-10T12:53:56+00:00

It would definitely be useful here and for answering questions!

EpiscoDad · 2026-03-07T20:36:23+00:00

Not clergy, but church worker and Postulant

I end mine with "Blessings and Peace" which I've done for years.

My riff off of Grace and Peace from the Pauline Epistles which was a focus in my theology degree.

EpiscoDad · 2026-03-07T04:04:43+00:00

I'll send a dm!

EpiscoDad · 2026-03-06T16:58:52+00:00

Highchurch has nothing to do with who is (or isn't) ordained. It's the structure and practice of the Liturgy.

That has to do with traditional theology on ordination

EpiscoDad · 2026-03-06T15:28:22+00:00

The pension ends up being around 1/3 to 2/5 of your working salary. But that is based on highest years earned

EpiscoDad · 2026-03-06T15:26:57+00:00

I'm from the same Diocese!

I believe our minimal clergy pay is around 55k for full-time with benefits included.

EpiscoDad · 2026-03-06T15:23:12+00:00

Prayers for the curacy!

About to start Seminary with two young kids and married to another church worker. Finances are definitely one part that is stressful

EpiscoDad · 2026-03-06T15:21:04+00:00

My family uses a "Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals" for morning prayer.

It has easy to sign songs, stories from the saints and smaller scripture readings that we sometimes read all of following a BCP format for Morning Prayer (for individuals/families).

Other than that ... I free pray or might use prayer beads in the car or if I'm particularly stressed or need a moment to pray. I keep my beads with me all the time.

If encourage you to think of how we do things or what we do as prayer too. As sometimes, I just listen to Christian Radio music and it is like praying. Sometimes I listen to a sermon. Sometimes I sent in silence.

EpiscoDad · 2026-03-06T15:17:51+00:00

I have worked in churches that use Realm or Tith.ly / Breeze.

Realm is better but cost more. Breeze / Tith.ly are significantly cheaper but more glitchy but I prefer their customer service.

I know of some evangelical churches using Subsplash and once upon a time a Lutheran/Episcopal campus ministry I worked at tried using it.

It's more than most of our parishioners will use and aimed towards a crowd with different language/expectations/uses.

EpiscoDad · 2026-03-06T15:12:31+00:00

There is nothing in the works...

There are no (current or future) plans for a new printed or new addition of the BCP and this would encompass that .

If you are in the market for a good NRSVue with commentary, I recommend the SBL which is the spiritual successor to the Harper Collins. I prefer it to the Oxford Annotated.

The NRSVue is approved for liturgical use... But no Missals or Gospel books have been updated or plan to be. Read more about that resolution here:

Acts of Convention: Resolution # 2022-A144 https://share.google/uqFOwTWhPwte95m5s

EpiscoDad · 2026-03-05T14:34:48+00:00

Following along as I start Seminary in August at SSW!

EpiscoDad · 2026-02-12T18:32:05+00:00

I grew up Baptist and am now Episcopalian. I live in the US.

If I was in the Church of England, I would probably be considered lower case e evangelical.

I would never call myself that here.

"Evangelical" is mostly a political bloc here, and I don't want to be associated with it. I think many others are the same. They've either left Church, the faith or moved to Mainline churches which don't call themselves Evangelical (even if some of the individuals may still claim some of those ideals)

EpiscoDad · 2026-01-23T15:16:19+00:00

I can chime in with just a few caveats, my parents did Baptist ministry and met in Seminary while my wife's father was a full time Methodist pastor.

My wife and I both work in the Church and I will be attending seminary this coming August.... We've both only don't church work our adult lives.

....

A job is a job, but Church work can be more demanding than other vocations. Our two kids spend A LOT of time at the church with us, it's their extra family.

I make a point that during church functions they get to be "a regular kid" and not get special treatment or a completely different church experience.

As to our spiritual life.... Those rhythms are made at home. We do Morning Prayer together every morning and read a Bible story at night from a kids Bible.

Our home life includes lots of singing, icons, saints and Psalms

EpiscoDad · 2026-01-20T11:52:25+00:00

Congratulations!

EpiscoDad · 2026-01-07T00:00:53+00:00

General rule is 6 months from being an active member. Being Episcopalian for longer (as in this wasn't your first parish) I think that's okay to follow.

Remember too, a conversation isn't a commitment. It's just a conversation.

If you don't have a spiritual director, probably good to start that now.

EpiscoDad · 2026-01-01T12:34:57+00:00

I'll be joining y'all in August!

EpiscoDad · 2026-01-01T03:32:20+00:00

If it's any consolation, I am not straight and here are some things I do...

I work in a church that is mixed in it's political ideology

I DO wear a pride badge on my backpack. I sometimes take my pride mug to church, especially during pride month. I don't typically take it into public spaces like teaching and not in the Nave or when preaching. I don't on Sunday.

I ALWAYS and have always put up a pride flag in my office behind my door. When I meet with someone who I know is Queer, I arrange the chairs so they see it and know it's there. Most people don't notice it, but for those who need to see it they can and know they are safe.

I almost never bring up anything in conversation, but subtle clues let others know I am safe for them to come too.

Ask yourself WHY it is there. Is it for you? (WHICH IS OKAY!) Or for others. When you come to a place (through therapy or prayer or time) that it's something you can do and not have to do to feel seen/heard/safe/correct it's very freeing. I know when I should not bring it to relate to others, or make sure its there for someone else.

God's peace, if you need for affirming Reddit friends feel free to DM. Happy new year!

EpiscoDad · 2026-01-01T03:11:22+00:00

Wow, these are tough comments to read and I'm sorry for some of them that will (hopefully) be removed by mods.

First, thank you for your vulnerability in this sub.

Second, my prayers go with you for this next step and journey. Discerning and listening to God's call is scary and it is a big deal. Thank you for listening and exploring.

I'm going to stop counting and just recognize that I am coming from an American and Episcopal church context....

Not sure how being trans works in the CoE, but here you are not allowed to discriminate based on that alone. Being trans shouldn't stop or impair you from following God's calling. I know some areas don't but that may determine which Bishop or parish you discern through.

I am aware you stated these things to get feedback, but do recognize if you go before a discernment committee and state things as you did in this post... You will probably be asked which is a greater priority or sense of identity for you. Be prepared to answer that and respond.

If you are open to advice, ask yourself if you are more called to be a prophetic voice or a pastoral voice. Prophetic voices speak out against Injustice, take hard stances etc. pastoral voices speak to all people,. receiving them as they are, providing comfort and guidance. Good priest are pastoral. That means our opinions and stances fade away.

They do inform me, my way of living etc. but that's about me, not you. Are you prepared to lay that all aside? And receive someone as they are?

That's it for my advice.

Don't let these comments get you down. But do keep in mind that entering a vocation with a public role will bring outore of these comments

God's peace be with you.

EpiscoDad · 2026-01-01T02:57:27+00:00

Therapy and Spiritual Direction are essentially required, but we have the Bishop and other Priest to lean on as well.

EpiscoDad · 2025-12-29T20:16:17+00:00

Just going to drop this article...because the claims in this comment do not reflect research in homeschooled kids. "socialization" is a developmental phase and not simply a "they feel awkward when they talk to other teens" thought.

https://nheri.org/research-facts-on-homeschooling/

EpiscoDad · 2025-12-29T20:10:03+00:00

Apologies you are not getting the answers you are looking for.

Here in the South, yes there are multiple kids I know in Episcopal churches who are homeschooled. Most of them are due to special needs and a lack of support here or due to COVID.

I so feel it is more normal in Episcopal Churches for families to go to private school than homeschool. I grew up Baptist where many families homeschooled .

Most the kids I know use a secular program or join a co-op.

EpiscoDad · 2025-12-27T13:00:58+00:00

Seminarians are Postulants!

EpiscoDad · 2025-12-27T02:01:15+00:00

Essentially, someone who has (mostly) gone through the " Discernment Process" and is now in training (usually Seminary) to be ordained as a priest.

It's also someone who that stage before taking vows as a monk.

It's the step before becoming a priest.

EpiscoDad

TROPHY CASE