D051: Simple solution passes GC
“The 80-Cent Solution for World Mission” passed both Houses of General Convention unanimously, paving the way for a new approach to increasing the number of missionaries serving overseas for the Episcopal Church.
Resolution D051, sponsored by the Rev. Dr. R. David Cox, deputy from Southwestern Virginia, and the Rev. Susan Eaves, deputy from Virginia, calls for each Episcopalian to donate 80 cents per year toward funding for new missionaries.
“All we need for 80 new missionaries, which would double the size of the overseas missionary corps, is 80 cents per person per year,” said the Rev. Lauren R. Stanley, an Appointed Missionary who served for four years in Sudan and is transferring to Haiti in August. “We are the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. We need more missionaries. And all it costs is 80 cents per person per year. How simple is that?”
In his testimony before the Stewardship Committee, Deputy Cox explained that his parish, St. Luke’s in Hot Springs, along with three other small parishes in Southwestern Virginia, are leading this effort. “It’s a mustard-seed approach,” he said. “Out of the tiniest seeds come the largest bushes. This program allows every single Episcopalian to be directly involved in mission through this tiny contribution.”
Deputy Cox and his parish came up with the idea of the “80-Cent Solution” after Rev. Stanley told the congregation of the Episcopal Church’s small number of missionaries and how little it would take to double the numbers. Since then, more than 50 parishes across the country have committed informally to the program.
Both priests say that the program will have a web site by early Fall explaining how to send money directly to the Episcopal Church, where a special Trust Fund will be set up to fund new missionaries. In addition, the web site will serve as a central point of reference for mission work around the world, and for connecting donors with missionaries overseas.
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