After extensive discussion the 2013 session of the Iowa Annual Conference approved a 2014 budget of $16, 273,502. That represents an increase of $598,697, or 3.8% over the 2013 budget.
General Church apportionments remained essentially the same, at $2,739,330, a total that includes a contingency to pay General Church apportionments at 100%, if necessary.
The Conference Ministries portion of the approved budget is: $10,069,195. Conference ministries includes Board of Ordained Ministries, Board of Pensions, Board of Trustees, Commission on Equitable Compensation, District Funds, Clergy Support Ministries, Episcopal Funds, Pastoral Care and Counseling, conference Administrative Committees, Council on Finance and Administration, and Connectional Ministries Council. The Conference Ministries portion of the budget reflects a 5.2% increase over 2013.
The approved budget for Conference Missions is $3,464,997. That includes support for the Board of Camps, Board of Church and Society, Board of Discipleship, Board of Global Ministries, Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministries, Board of Laity, the commissions on Christian Unity, Ministries with Persons with Disabilities, Religion and Race, Status and Role of Women, the councils for Older Adults, Young Adults, and Campus Ministries, District Councils on youth Ministries, and the Matthew 25 Fund. The Conference Missions portion of the 2014 budget reflects a 3.8% increase over 2013.
The extended budget conversation focused the proposed allocations for the Conference Missions portion of the now-approved budget including the process used to determine allocations. Some Boards, a Commission, and District portions received increases while other Boards, Commissions, and Councils were slated for reductions, and/or $0 for 2014. A proposal to amend the budget to 99.3% of each entity’s original request was approved on Sunday night with a majority of 53% support.
The Council on Finance and Administration reviewed the entire proposed budget, as amended, in a Monday noontime meeting. The report of CFA was then presented to the entire Conference on Monday afternoon. Additional discussion preceded the vote on the 2014 budget, which was approved by a 58% to 42% margin.