UTO awards $1.2 million in grants for Episcopal, Anglican mission and ministry

From ENS-

The United Thank Offering of the Episcopal Church awarded 34 grants for a total of $1,214,447.51 for the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. The grant recipients were approved by the Executive Council, meeting June 9 – June 11 in San Juan, Puerto Rico (Diocese of Puerto Rico).

The United Thank Offering is a ministry of the Episcopal Church to promote thankfulness and mission in the whole Church. Known worldwide as UTO, the United Thank Offering grants are awarded for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally in The Episcopal Church.

The 2017 grants were awarded to projects in 35 dioceses, which included 27 dioceses located within the United States, eight non-domestic dioceses, five companion dioceses, one United Thank Offering internship, and Global Partnerships funding for missionaries.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2017/06/14/uto-awards-1-2-million-in-grants-for-episcopal-anglican-mission-and-ministry/

Council expresses ‘deep regret’ over UTO events

From ENS-

The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council formally moved Oct. 17 to try to heal the wounds incurred during the recent controversy over the functioning of the United Thank Offering.

Council’s efforts included two resolutions and many statements of support for the future of UTO and its relationship with the wider church.

In addition, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori told council that she and UTO board president Barbara Schafer, from the Diocese of Nevada, were working on a joint statement to later release to the church.

Steve Hutchinson, chair of council’s Joint Standing Committee on Governance and Administration for Mission (GAM), told his colleagues that his committee’s Oct. 15 discussions with four UTO representatives were “substantive, frank and productive.”

He characterized the attitude as one of “very strong support and high hopes to move forward – not to dwell on the past – but to move forward cooperatively.”

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2013/10/17/council-expresses-deep-regret-over-uto-events/

Church, presiding bishop respond to UTO resignations

From ENS-

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori issued a statement Sept. 6 regarding the recent resignation of four United Thank Offering board members in response to a draft revision of UTO’s bylaws.

“The resignations of several members of the United Thank Offering board in the past few days deeply distress me. They appear to be the result of grave suspicion and the attribution of inappropriate and unhelpful motives,” the presiding bishop said.

“The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS), and its elected and official leadership … have no intention of divesting the United Thank Offering of its funds or applying excessive controls to its practices. Our goal is the one that has continued from the beginning of this United Offering – to relieve suffering and help to build a series of ministries that ‘proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,’” she added.

The presiding bishop’s statement came after two of the resigning board members – Robin Sumners and Barbi Tinder – issued a public declaration on Sept. 3 saying that under the proposed new bylaws they believe “the United Thank Offering board will possibly be rendered powerless and voiceless by Episcopal Church leadership.”

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2013/09/06/church-presiding-bishop-respond-to-uto-resignations/

PB Responds to UTO Concerns

From The Living Church-

A statement from the Presiding Bishop about United Thank Offering

The resignations of several members of the United Thank Offering Board in the past few days deeply distress me. They appear to be the result of grave suspicion and the attribution of inappropriate and unhelpful motives. 

The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS), and its elected and official leadership (the President of the House of Deputies, the Chief Operating Officer, the Executive Officer of General Convention, the Treasurer, and I) have no intention of divesting the United Thank Offering of its funds or applying excessive controls to its practices. Our goal is the one that has continued from the beginning of this United Offering — to relieve suffering and help to build a series of ministries that “proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

More here-

http://livingchurch.org/pb-responds-uto-concerns

Church Center Responds on UTO

From The Living Church-

Recently a statement by former members of the board of the United Thank Offering has been circulating. The following is offered in the hope of providing some clarity.

The United Thank Offering is a central part of the life and mission of The Episcopal Church. The United Thank Offering is all of us who offer our coins in thanksgiving for the blessings that God has bestowed upon us. As our Episcopal Church leadership has frequently expressed, the Church needs a healthy and vibrant United Thank Offering. Its important work is not threatened, and United Thank Offering programs and grants will continue.

As part of the support of this important work, drafts of new bylaws and a Memorandum of Understanding were put forward by Episcopal Church leadership as part of a process agreed to by the United Thank Offering board. Leadership’s proposal would establish standard business and fiduciary practices, including for accountability and transparency, expected in the life of the Church and as is expected of all CCABs.

It is Leadership’s hope that respectful and reasoned dialogue, as was anticipated by the agreed-upon process, will continue around these proposals, with all stakeholders sharing their points of view to enable life-giving creativity and health to the United Thank Offering in the 21st century.

Please keep The Episcopal Church and its United Thank Offering in your prayers as we move forward.

http://livingchurch.org/church-center-responds-uto

Four Members of the UTO Board Resign in Protest of Proposed Bylaw Changes.

From Mark Harris' Blog-

A Statement from the Former Communications Convener of the United Thank Offering Board:
 
With the stroke of a pen, the United Thank Offering Board (UTO) will possibly be rendered powerless and voiceless by Episcopal Church leadership.  This is a complete reversal of a three- year study process that resulted in the General Convention ratifying the report of a Study Committee (INC-055 AdHoc) in 2012. The report praised the UTO Board’s work and declared:

                  “We believe that the United Thank Offering must continue to be autonomous but interdependent as regards the corporate entity that constitutes The Episcopal Church.”

The abuse of power seems staggering.  With the revision of bylaws written by DFMS leadership, anticipated to be presented to The Executive Council of The Episcopal Church in October 2013, the current United Thank Offering Board, representing 125 years of service, will cease to exist.
The revised bylaws document eviscerates the United Thank Offering. It is monstrous and the worst set of revisions ever seen by one longtime bylaws expert.   Several Board members described initial reactions to the document as "Horror."  The Board President said the word "eviscerate" occurred to her as well.

More here-

http://anglicanfuture.blogspot.com/2013/09/four-members-of-uto-board-resign-in.html?spref=fb

Also in The Living Church-

http://livingchurch.org/uto-leaders-resign-protest