Honoring the Past – Embracing the Future
A presentation by the Senior Pastor, Dr. Harold Henderson, at
Stewardship Dinners
September 20, 21 and 22, 2011
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We are facing an interesting challenge as we prepare to develop
our 2012 operational budget. On the one hand we need to continue the turnaround
in membership and attendance we have been experiencing in recent years and
establish strong initiatives for the growth and even the survival of our church.
On the other hand, we are in the midst of a continuing economic downturn that
adversely affects churches and church members just like it affects everyone
else.
Given these realities, the leadership of our congregational committees has made
the commitment that we will operate within a balanced budget in 2012. The
response to the stewardship campaign in which we are currently engaged will be
the major factor in setting the income limits within which we will be able to
plan and prioritize our ministry initiatives.
Of course, we do not have those response levels yet but we have had to do some
preliminary planning based in part on our past giving history as a congregation.
That does not mean that we are locked into our recent history – God forbid! -
but we always need to do some preliminary planning and our giving record in
recent years is a responsible place to start.
What this assignment is saying to us is that we need to plan to do more with
less in 2012 – more because the church needs to grow, and less
because it is unsustainable for the church to plan to operate on a budget in
deficit. It is impossible this far out to predict what the final numbers will be
for 2011 but it seems inevitable that we will overspend our actual income. If
so, we will have been able to do so only by drawing on funds held in reserve
from undesignated bequests. Whilst it is legitimate to apply those funds in that
way because they are undesignated, it is very unsound financial policy and
practice.
A healthy church needs to cover its operational budget with regular giving by
the congregation.
With this in mind, our preliminary planning anticipates a reduced expenditure
budget for 2012. Since staff costs are the main item of expenditure in any
church budget, the reduction will have to be achieved by reducing staff costs.
To avoid limiting or eliminating altogether our growth potential, this can be
achieved by a careful process of staff restructuring that will enable
ministry-related staff to focus on ministry with more adequate administrative
support. This will also reduce to a more acceptable level the percentage of
staffing costs to total budget. An important component of this process will also
be more extensive volunteer leadership, recognition and involvement.
In this process, great care is being taken to preserve and enhance our ability
to undertake existing and new ministry initiatives in accordance with priorities
previously established over a period of time in long range planning exercises by
the Church Council, the Senior Pastor's Roundtable and other forums.
Those priorities may be summarized as follows:
• We will continue to give priority to inspiring worship and music, and the
celebration of the Sacraments.
• We will continue to place strong emphasis on all-age Christian education
programs and activities.
• We will operate on a balanced budget.
• We will reduce staff costs by strategic staff re-structuring, and opening up
more serious opportunities for volunteer leadership and participation.
• We are committed to caring for our own – especially the older members of our
congregation who are growing older and need and deserve, adequate pastoral care.
• We will place renewed emphasis on children, youth and family ministries.
• We will continue to serve our homeless and working poor neighbors, learning
from our recent experience to gain a more targeted focus designed to avoid
duplication and fill gaps in the range of services offered by the overall
network of agencies.
• By introducing a new level of administration and management to free
ministry-related staff to concentrate on ministry, we will also achieve greater
efficiency and cost control in all areas of the church's activities and
facilities.
Of course, these points are not, and are not meant to be, a statement in detail
of all aspects of this church's very extensive ministries. They are an
identification of key broad areas likely to be affected by the budget challenge
outlined above, adversely if we get it wrong, and positively if we get it right
as I believe, by God's grace, we will. By doing so, we will embrace the exciting
opportunity to write another chapter in what will be the 155th year of this
congregation's long and impressive history and we will truly be:
Honoring the Past and Embracing the Future.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
we have already come:
'tis grace hath brought us safe thus far,
and grace will lead us on.
- UMH # 378 (modified)
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First United Methodist Church 419 N.E. First Street Gainesville, Florida 32601 352-372-8523