Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Holy Trinity cuts full-time rector


From Rhode Island-

When Reverend Alan Gates of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church moved to Tiverton in July 2007 with his wife and two children to become rector of the 300-year-old church, both he and the church were hopeful.

Those hopes have been recently dashed in ways that no one expected. Rev. Gates is leaving in early Dec. and the church has had to arrange for interim coverage over the holidays.

The church is running an operating deficit this year of $80,000, says its Vestry (the church’s governing body), and the total deficit over the last three years is about $200,000. Attendance is also declining, the group says in a letter posted on the church’s website.

To cut losses, the church decided last month to transition Rev. Gates’ position from full-time to half-time over the next year, and reduce his pay accordingly.

But that idea didn’t work out. Rev. Gates said he could not support his family or pay the mortgage on a half salary. His gross pay would be halved from its current $70,000 (including a housing stipend, but excluding health insurance). Other half-time work isn’t easily available in the current job market.

More here-

http://www.eastbayri.com/detail/139625.html

No comments: