This is the longest stewardship letter ever written
If you have been part of CCC over the past months, you may feel a little whiplash. Last October we had a town hall meeting to talk about our long-term budget issues. My take-away from that congregational conversation was that we should explore all options for the health and vitality of CCC. Nothing should be off limits.
Later, we had a Fall “Add 12” giving campaign in November and December. We asked our members and friends to increase giving to meet a projected $60,000 budget deficit. Many people stepped up, and we raised about $30,000 with additional pledges, gifts, and donors getting current on their financial giving. Thank you!
In February, we held a series of small group conversations asking about actions we can take to enhance our congregation’s vitality after the troubles of Covid-19. Some of the actions included reaching out to disengaged members; focusing on emerging adults; engaging in celebratory worship; living fully into our covenants, especially around diversity and inclusion; and mutually-responsive communication. These action items will all take effort from all of us. CCC is no longer in a place where we can rely on just a few leaders to turn vision into movement.
This month we had another town hall meeting on the budget with difficult news that may have felt surprising to many. We are back to a $60,000 deficit for this year and we face a $135,000 deficit next year. This will mean an enormous effort to raise revenue and/or painful budget cuts in the next fiscal year. On top of that, the Coordinating Council has been exploring the idea of selling our building due to disproportionately high maintenance costs. The pain of this proposal was palpable in the pews. Then there was another proposal to decrease our tithe to the UCC. I could feel the polite fury and frustration from where I stood.
So what’s going on?
We are experiencing in-person worship attendance that is close to our pre-Covid numbers. Sundays buzz with visitors, new members, families with young children, a growing chancel choir, and a strong sense of community. We also have dozens of people join us on Zoom each week. Monthly game nights draw 45 people to the social hall for food and fun. Ongoing support to an Afghan refugee family has awakened a sense of responsibility to the wider community. We are blessed. Many churches have not bounced back as strongly. Sadly, some UCC churches in our conference are seeing only 30% of their pre-Covid attendance back in person.
We are doing well AND … our building has become enormously expensive to maintain. It costs about $400,000 a year to pay for maintenance, capital improvements, and the staff to keep up with the building’s needs. Insurance costs rise, inflation hits our net income, giving patterns have changed, and we have paid for a series of non-budgeted building repairs with the roof and other water issues. Based on feedback from the last annual meeting, the Council wants to give a COLA increase to the staff to meet high inflation. All of this adds up to an unsustainable budget deficit.
For those of you who are newer to CCC or need a refresher, our budget is supported by volunteer contributions. We receive no money from the wider church. We own our own property and are solely responsible for its repairs and liabilities. We receive about $135,000 of rental income. The rest of our upcoming $972,000 budget is supported by the pledges and legacy contributions of members and friends. “Pledging” is our term for a financial faith investment. Each year we ask those who are part of our community to calculate their upcoming financial contribution for the next year. We ask God’s blessing on the pledges, thank the givers, and pray for the wisdom to use our resources well during a special annual service. This year, we will consecrate our pledges on March 19 during morning worship.
Here’s the truth we all must face: Money and other material objects drive so much of our life decisions-and our values. We don’t talk about it much with each other in ordinary conversation. When’s the last time you shared with someone the percentage of your income you give away each year? The way we use money matters not only to our physical and emotional wellbeing, but to our spirits. Rev. Molly Baskette & psychologist Ellen O’Donnell, in their book Bless this Mess, say it well: “Money is a deeply spiritual issue, because it has so much power over our feelings and relationships.”
I have no interest in telling you exactly how you ought to spend your money. I can tell you that reflecting on the values of your money reveals its worth. There is no magic formula for how you and I best spend, save, and share. I do know that Investing our personal resources for the spiritual good of ourselves, our families, our church, and our world matters.
In a time of uncertainty, it’s natural to feel like you may not want to give to the church until you have some answers. So, here is a quick FAQ on some of the questions and worries I have heard. I’m sure you have other questions, but these seem to be the big ones right now.
Are we selling the church building?
That is for the congregation to decide after a period of prayer and deliberation. Right now it is one suggestion of many, and there is a soft but serious offer on the table from another Silver Spring community church to buy our building. While our Council and I have talked to their pastor and leaders about their offer, we have been clear that any decision to sell will take us a long time. I promised you would not come to church and see a surprise “for sale” sign in the front yard. I stand by that. The offer is not on the table indefinitely, however. CCC will need to give either a “yes we are interested in more” or a “thanks but no thanks” to the overture by June.
What is the current average giving?
Number of pledge units: 115
Total amount pledged in FY 22/23: $641,235
Mean: $5,576
Median: $3,600
Range: $100 – $39,000
What amount do we all need to give to meet the proposed budget without a deficit and maybe have a little wiggle room?
If all of our current pledgers who did not “add 12” raise their pledges by 12% (or $0.12 for every dollar currently pledged), and if those who “added 12” sustain or raise their new pledge.s we will be in good shape for the next year. Alternatively, we can add about 30 new pledges.
Are we reducing our mission support to the United Church of Christ?
The CCC Constitution states that our church shall give to the wider UCC. This fiscal year, we will give over $80,000 to the wider UCC. This includes our Potomac Association assessment and other contributions, not including the 5 special offerings in which we also participate. The CCC Bylaws set our total contribution to 10% of the operating budget. Any changes to the Bylaws (and our giving to the UCC) will require an affirmative vote by the entire congregation at the Annual Meeting.
Are we cutting staff or staff hours?
The current proposal to reduce the deficit includes cuts to staff hours. There are no proposals to eliminate any positions at this time. There is also a proposal to bring program funding back to FY 2020/21 levels. To reduce the budget to a level we were one year ago, in the absence of new revenue, we must make cuts in staff hours, programs, and our contributions to our denomination
Why are we always talking about the budget and not our vision?
SOMETHING has to change, but the congregation hasn’t decided what that something is. After years of seeing where our membership and finances have been heading, we are now at a critical point where we need to make changes, big and small, in order to remain the vital and indispensable church of the future.
Is Pastor Matt leaving the church?
Nope. I have no plans to resign.
What is “The Ask”?
The only way to stop fretting about the budget is to either meet expenses, meet the challenge to increase giving and givers or some permutation of the two. We are not people who shy away from the challenges and crises of the day. We meet them with compassion, imagination, and intelligence. If you have not done so already, can you “Add 12” and increase your pledge by 12 cents on the dollar? Can you increase your giving to CCC as an expression of faith, hope, and love?
If you made it this far in my longest stewardship letter ever, thanks for sticking with me! I truly believe God provides. In times of anxiety when I have wondered how my family and I will make ends meet, I have never been in want when I decide to trust God and use my money to support my faith values. I have never starved because I was generous. I have been blessed by gratitude and generosity way more than I have regretted my giving.
Sometimes can feel unsure, vulnerable, and unequal to the challenges of the age in which we live. We may struggle to be courageous in a world that feels callous. But we carry a vital message of abundant life, a faith that trusts God, a hope that heals the broken, and a love that grows a better tomorrow. And our giving helps support a future that “can be.” My heart sings with gratitude, and I hope you can sing along as you consider your generous pledge to CCC, even in uncertain times.
Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home?
When Jesus is my portion, my constant friend is he:
God’s eye is on the sparrow, and I know God watches me.
Yours on the journey,
Pastor Matt
CLICK HERE TO PLEDGE ONLINE
CLICK HERE FOR THE VISUAL EXPENSE BUDGET
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE GIVING PYRAMID
