Collaborative Ministries

Program and Budget

This section of the budget addresses ministries that cannot be funded by a single parish, but are instead funded by pooling our resources as a diocese through collaboration. These ministries include: Cedar Hills Camp & Conference Center, Trinity Commons Books & Gifts, and Community Development-Linked Deposit.

Changes in the 2010 budget for existing programs include:

• Contributions toward the operating expenses of Cedar Hills Camp & Conference Center, $122,000. This amount represents a 19.7% reduction from the 2009 level.
• Community Development – Linked Deposit, $0 in 2010. The Diocesan Council previously authorized up to $100,000 of endowment funds for investment in Linked Deposits in banks, which make below market rate loans for selected community development projects. The long-term earning potential of the invested funds remains intact by reimbursing the endowment fund for the amount of appreciation forfeited by making the community development investment. The actual amount depends both on the appreciation experienced by the Joint Investment Fund and portion of the $100,000 that is actually invested during the year. Currently, none of the $100,000 authorization is invested.
• Chaplain-Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital – This funding was eliminated in the 2010 budget. The position is currently vacant, and we are considering how best to utilize these funds in the future.
• Trinity Commons Books & Gifts – The 2010 budget includes an allocation to the operating budget of the bookstore of $15,000. Previous budgets have not included this support, but Council has authorized prior losses. The operation of the bookstore is now jointly supported by the Diocese and Trinity Cathedral.

Cedar Hills Camp and Conference Center

The allocation in the diocesan budget for Cedar Hills in 2010 is $122,000. These monies represent 37.5% of the Cedar Hills annual operating budget of $324,471. This allocation reflects a $30,000 decrease, or 19.7% from last year’s diocesan support to Cedar Hills. In the past five years, when considering the needs of Cedar Hills no consideration has been given to inflation and the necessary maintenance of our aging facilities. This decrease in diocesan support will require significant changes at Cedar Hills.

The Executive Director, the Rev. Peter W. Nielsen III, will take on the direct monitoring of all operating systems to accommodate the demands of regulatory agencies (potable water, septic plant and pool), as well as, the hiring and follow-up with multiple service providers in various categories to accomplish property-related tasks that he cannot handle himself or through a corps of volunteers.

Once again, Cedar Hills will offer a nine-month calendar running from mid-February until mid-November offering both program and hospitality. During the hard winter season, Cedar Hills will not entertain guests and will minimize operating costs, as the cost of operating during these months tends to exceed the historic capacity to generate revenues. During the three winter months the director, and the part time administrative assistant, will take earned time off, maintain the property, invest their time in program design and preparation, as well as market Cedar Hills to user groups and programs with the intention of maximizing our revenue-generating potential during our nine months of operation.

The advantage to this plan is that we will have the time to prepare marketing materials and design programs that are well thought out, as well as invest some time in property maintenance that is not easily done during the operating months. Our challenge continues to be accommodating the increase in facility and program costs with the limitations inherent in the property and with a minimized staff. As we look to the future of Cedar Hills, it is important to recognize that we have met the challenges in our past and we will continue to meet the challenges in the future. The diocesan family will be celebrating 50 years of ministry at Cedar Hills Camp and Conference Center in 2010.

The allocation to Cedar Hills is best understood as general support in the following categories:

Personnel—The Executive Director, 1-part time hourly Administrative Assistant, a few part- time hourly Services Assistants, 20 – part-time seasonal stipendiary Summer Camp Program Staff.

Program—Although there are smaller programs throughout the year the primary program offered through Cedar Hills continues to be the Camp Cedar Hills. Camp Cedar Hills provides 30,000 contact hours per season engaging campers and staff alike in exploration of their relationship with God, and how they are called to respond to that relationship through action. In 2009, we experienced a minimal loss in campers, compared with other camps. In 2010, we look to grow both camper numbers and Episcopal leadership.

We will continue offering the best hospitality we are able within the construct of our facilities and staffing configuration during the coming year.

Property—A large portion of the operating cost of Cedar Hills is incurred in maintaining the property of 191-acres with eight program buildings and supporting infrastructure. Each year we make some small progress in addressing deferred maintenance; however, each year our supporting infrastructure and buildings become another year older and more susceptible to breakdown.

The challenges, limitations, as well as the many blessings experienced at Cedar Hills focus our time to reflect, pray and celebrate our dependence on God, and our continued commitment to the ministry shared by many children, youth and adults who utilize our conference center.

This year it is important to note that the Diocesan Council, and Office of the Bishop, has engaged a task force to discover the nature of camp and conference ministries in the life and mission of the Diocese of Ohio. This research and discovery will certainly have an impact on the future ministry of Cedar Hills. I suspect their work will affirm some past initiatives, identify new opportunities for mission, and help us discern the future use of the asset we have at Cedar Hills.

Trinity Commons Books & Gifts

In 2009 Trinity Commons Books & Gifts (formerly Sacred Path Books & Art) became a jointly operated ministry of Trinity Cathedral and the Diocese of Ohio. As a diocesan ministry, it exists to offer resources to support individuals from around the diocese on their spiritual journey and be a resource to congregations in their ministry. As a ministry of Trinity Cathedral and Trinity Commons, TCB&G provides support to the Cathedral congregation and other groups using the building, and is a Christian witness and retail resource in downtown Cleveland. The bookstore carries a diverse selection of titles on prayer, spirituality, peace and justice, Christian formation, world religions, art/creativity and young adult/children’s topics, as well as a quality assortment of gifts from local artists. TCB&G also travels to off-site events: events that serve parishes and wider communities in a multitude of ways. These events increase our sales potential and have a powerful promotional and marketing benefit. The staff takes the store “on the road” for conferences and other major programs.

This past year has again been a time of transition. In addition to becoming a collaborative ministry of the Cathedral and the Diocese, Michael Lawrence replaced Clara Sayre as the store’s manager. He is the fourth permanent/interim manager in three years. While many changes have been implemented in the last year, Trinity Commons Books &Gifts still struggles to be financially viable. The economy, decreased purchases by parishes, and lower attendance at diocesan conferences have had a significant impact on store sales. Recognizing that it will take more time for TCB&G to operate without a deficit, the Diocesan Council has for the first time included a $15,000 line item to account for potential losses (equally shared by the Diocese and Trinity Cathedral).