[Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs] The following statement has been issued by the members of the Episcopal Church Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance, on July 9 at the 77th General Convention of the Episcopal Church.

The Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance completed its work on the proposed 2013-15 budget on Monday morning, July 9, at 9 a.m. PB&F reviewed the final copy of the budget spreadsheet and adopted it for presentation to the 77th General Convention. The budget is being translated into Spanish and will be forwarded to the printer on Monday afternoon.

The schedule of the General Convention precluded receiving more than a few concurred resolutions from the two Houses. However, PB&F believes that it has listened hard to the church, both before General Convention and here in Indianapolis, and is pleased that the budget includes many of the requests for continuing support and for new work.

The proposed budget is structured according to the Five Marks of Mission and based on a 19% asking for each year of the 2013-15 Triennium. The proposed budget will be presented to a Joint Session of the General Convention at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 10.

Diane Pollard, Diocese of New York, Chair of Program, Budget and Finance, and Bishop Stephen Lane, Diocese of Maine, vice chair, on behalf of the members of Program, Budget and Finance.