Washington National Cathedral

==Financial concerns==
In January 2003, [[Nathan D. Baxter]], [[Dean (Christianity)|dean]] of the cathedral, announced his retirement effective from June 30, 2003. Baxter had led the cathedral since 1991.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Baxter Plans to Step Down as Dean of National Cathedral |date=January 23, 2003 |publisher=The Episcopal Church |url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/article/baxter-plans-step-down-dean-national-cathedral}}</ref> After an 18-month search, [[Samuel T. Lloyd III]] was named dean and began his tenure on April 23, 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cathedral.org/staff/the-very-rev-samuel-t-lloyd-iii/ |title=The Very Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd III |website=Washington National Cathedral}}</ref> Using a $15&nbsp;million bequest the cathedral received in 2000, Lloyd rapidly expanded the cathedral's programming.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/doc/408585924.html |title=Rockville Woman Leaves $15 Million to Cathedral |last=Murphy |first=Caryle |date=March 18, 2000 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=B3 |via=ProQuest Archiver}}</ref><ref name="fandos">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/05/us/national-cathedrals-repair-work-finials-finance-and-faith.html |title=National Cathedral's Repair Work: Finials, Finance and Faith |last=Fandos |first=Nicholas |date=July 4, 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=July 5, 2015}}</ref> Meanwhile, the cathedral deferred maintenance and declined to make needed repairs.<ref name="fandos" /> Construction also began in summer 2005 on a $34 million, four-level, 430-car underground parking garage. It opened in 2007.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Washington, D.C.: Cathedral opens first underground bus garage in nation's capital |date=May 11, 2007 |publisher=The Episcopal Church |url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/article/washington-dc-cathedral-opens-first-underground-bus-garage-nations-capital |access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref><ref name="fandos" /> The structure was pushed by [[John Bryson Chane]], bishop of the [[Episcopal Diocese of Washington]], and was mostly funded by debt. Payments on the garage were $500,000 per year, with a major increase in the annual debt service beginning in 2017.<ref name="zongkerneeds">{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/National-Cathedrals-Preservation-Needs-Top-50-Million-142660786.html |title=National Cathedral's Preservation, Financial Needs Top $50 Million |last=Zongker |first=Brett |date=March 14, 2012 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=July 5, 2015 |via=NBC4 Washington}}</ref> In early 2008, the National Cathedral Association, the church's fundraising donor network, was disbanded after cathedral leaders concluded that the building was "finished" and it was no longer necessary to raise significant funds for construction.<ref name="fandos" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://cathedral.org/national-cathedral-association/history/ |title=History: National Cathedral Association |website=Washington National Cathedral |access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref>

The 2008–2009 [[Great Recession]] hit the cathedral hard. By June 2010, the cathedral cut its budget from $27&nbsp;million to $13&nbsp;million, [[outsourcing|outsourced]] the operation of its [[gift shop]], shut its greenhouse, cancelled its plans to replace the Skinner organ in the sanctuary, and ceased operation of the College of Preachers that had provided Episcopal clergy nationwide with continuing theological education. The cathedral also laid off 100 of its 170 staff members, including its art [[Conservator-restorer|conservator]] and its liturgist (who researched and advocated the use of [[Christian liturgy|liturgies]] at the cathedral).<ref name="gowen">{{Cite news |url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/06/11/national_cathedral_finds_itself_in_a_bind/ |title=National Cathedral finds itself in a bind |last=Gowen |first=Annie |date=June 11, 2010 |newspaper=The Washington Post |via=Boston.com}}</ref> It also significantly cut back on programming, music performances, and classes.<ref name="sullivanleave">{{Cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Patricia |date=July 8, 2011 |title=The Very Rev. Samuel Lloyd, Dean of Washington National Cathedral, to Resign |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/the-very-rev-samuel-lloyd-dean-of-washington-national-cathedral-to-resign/2011/07/08/gIQAbd3O4H_story.html |access-date=April 23, 2018 }}</ref> To help stabilize its finances, the cathedral began an $11&nbsp;million fundraising campaign and used $2.5&nbsp;million of its $50&nbsp;million endowment to plug budget holes.<ref name="gowen" /> The National Cathedral Association was recreated as well.<ref name="zongkerneeds" />

In June 2010, the cathedral announced that it was exploring the sale of its rare book collection, the value of which was estimated to be several million dollars.<ref name="gowen" /> It sold a number of books to a private collector in 2011 for $857,000<ref name="fandos" /> and in 2013 donated most of the remaining collection to [[Virginia Theological Seminary]].<ref name="fandos" /><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Bishop Payne Library Receives Large Collection of Rare Books from the Washington National Cathedral |date=January 25, 2013 |url=https://www.vts.edu/page/news-detail?pk=829296 |access-date=July 5, 2015 |publisher=Virginia Theological Seminary}}</ref>

As the economic downturn continued, a report by cathedral staff identified $30&nbsp;million in needed maintenance and repairs.<ref name="fandos" /> Among the problems were cracked and missing mortar in the oldest sections of the building; broken [[HVAC]], mechanical, and plumbing systems throughout the structure; extensive preservation needs; and a main organ in disrepair. [[Repointing]] the building was estimated to cost at least $5 million, while organ repair was set at $15 million.<ref name="zongkerneeds" />

Since 2016, the Cathedral has stabilized its finances, reporting annual operating surpluses in its audited financial statements for the last seven years,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cathedral Age Fall/Winter 2021 Page 22 |url=https://mydigimag.rrd.com/publication/?i=734720&p=24&view=issueViewer&pp=1 |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=mydigimag.rrd.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and moving forward with some large capital projects including the renovation and opening of the Virginia Mae Center,<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Virginia Mae Center |url=https://cathedral.org/college/about-the-virginia-mae-center/ |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=Washington National Cathedral |language=en}}</ref> commencement of the great organ renovation,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Organ Renovation |url=https://cathedral.org/music/organ/ |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=Washington National Cathedral |language=en}}</ref> and continued earthquake repairs.