2005
Mark Bernard Cyr
A Plan for the Support of Congregations in the Diocese of New York
Every diocese has congregations that cannot fully support themselves financially. The Diocese of New York has made a unique commitment to assist many of these congregations through a program called the Congregational Support Plan (CSP). In an exceptionally creative way, the CSP has transferred a major financial burden from the shoulders of the congregation to that of the Diocese. This is a bold undertaking for any institution, but it is an appropriate one for our Church because it is a mission and ministry oriented action, as opposed to a maintenance oriented action. This paper is a review of the history of this unique and creative attempt to address the question: “How can a diocese support its small congregations which are struggling financially?”