Bishop Bickerton’s Presentation (May 3, 2026)

 

Opening Illustration: “We’ll Catch the Next One”

The bishop began with a family story about running out of gas on a late-night trip. The repeated phrase—“we’ll catch the next one”—became the central metaphor. It describes how the conference has delayed addressing problems until now we are out of “gas.”

1. Foundational Approach

• The bishop emphasized realistic hope, not naïve optimism.
• He values relationships, honesty, and transparency.
• He made clear:
• There is no fraud or wrongdoing.
• There are no bad people to blame.
• But there is serious mismanagement and systemic failure.

 

2. Current Reality: “We Are Out of Gas”

A. Financial Crisis

·        Operating reserves: $0 (as of Jan 1, 2026)

·        Healthy conferences typically hold $5M–$40M reserves

·        Decline caused by:

o   Years of deferring hard decisions

o   Spending beyond actual income

o   Using reserves to cover gaps

 

B. Broken Financial Systems

·        Lack of accurate accounting (“the gas gauge was broken”)

·        Inconsistent reporting for years

·        Confusion about:

o   What funds exist

o   What funds are restricted

·        High staff turnover made recovery slow and difficult

 

C. Declining Income

·        Mission share giving averages 75% of requested amount

·        Budget requests have decreased, but shortfall remains constant

·        Some budgets assumed 100% funding that never came

 

D. Use of Funds to Cover Gaps

·        Over 5 years:

o   $4.6 million used to cover unpaid obligations (pensions, insurance, etc.)

·        Property insurance alone:

o   Conference paid $2.1 million more than collected

 

E. Additional Contributing Factors

·        Mission share relief policies

·        Too many “mission churches” not paying apportionments

·        Over $1 million in emergency loans

·        Legislative commitments without clear funding

·        Boy Scouts settlement: $1.2 million paid from reserves

·        COVID-related financial relief not tracked

 

3. Membership and Vitality Crisis

A. Membership Decline

·        From 68,357 (2021) → 54,813 (2025)

B. Lack of Growth Indicators

·        61% of churches had:

o   No baptisms

o   No professions of faith

o   No confirmations

C. Congregational Sustainability

·        ~100 churches (out of 509) likely to close in 12–18 months

·        Many cannot support full-time pastors

 

4. Key Insight

·        The conference has been living with a mindset of:

• “We’ll catch the next one” (delay)
• Assuming resources would be enough
• Avoiding reality

·        Now: “We are out of gas.”

 

5. Path Forward

A. Fix Financial Systems

·        New accounting system

·        Monthly transparent reporting

B. Live Within Means

·        No more reliance on reserves

·        Align spending with actual income

C. Adjust Ministry Structure

·        More part-time pastors

·        Churches must meet obligations

D. Close Budget Gap

·        Budget must reflect real giving capacity (85–90%)

E. Embrace Collaboration

·        Move toward “cooperative parish” model

·        Shared ministry across churches

F. Courageous Decisions

·        Some churches will close

·        Focus on legacy and new mission opportunities

 

6. Theological Reframing

·        The mission is not us.

·        The mission is not the church building

·        The mission is:

o   “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

·        Survival is not the goal

·        Mission is the destination

 

7. Spiritual Call

·        This is a moment of:

o   Humility (“I don’t know”)

o   Prayer and dependence on God

·        Trust in:

o   God who “can do immeasurably more than we imagine”

·        Invitation to:

o   Let go, Trust God, Believe new life can come from loss.