Policy on 

DIOCESAN FUNDING AND STEWARDSHIP SHARE FORMULA

Adopted by the Ways and Means Committee August 2019

Each congregation shall make an annual commitment for Stewardship Share to support the mission and ministry of the Diocese of Iowa.

The annual Stewardship Share of each congregation shall be determined by the following formula:

Determine the Base Amount that is the lesser of either the previous year operating income, or the average of operating income of the previous three years, as reported in the annual parochial reports.

A deduction of $35,000 is allowed for congregations supporting a full-time cleric. This deduction will be pro-rated for congregations that support a cleric less than full-time, with a minimum deduction of $3,000 for congregations without stipendiary clergy.

The Stewardship Share shall be the Base Amount less the clergy deduction, multiplied by the applicable percent from the following table:

Base Amount Percent

$0-$50,000 11%

$50,000-$100,000 13%

$100,000-$200,000 15%

$200,000 & above 17%

Congregations making a commitment less than the full Stewardship Share shall make a written appeal to the Ways & Means Committee for a reduction in their Stewardship Share. The appeal should include an explanation and financial reports, and sent by mail to Ways & Means Committee, 225 37th Street, Des Moines, IA 50312, or by email to diocese@iowaepiscopal.org. The Ways & Means Committee may request to meet with representatives of the congregations in considering the appeal.

Congregations that do not agree to their Stewardship Share, even after appeal, may not be eligible for grants, loans, or other special funding through the Diocese of Iowa.

Ways & Means will review this formula at least every three years.