Dear Friends,

             At this time last year, I delivered a message of deep concern over the congregation’s financial status and budget plan for 2011.  I asked you to respond with new and increased pledges.   Your generosity, along with some very difficult decisions to reduce staffing, enabled us to clear the $35,000 deficit from 2010, pay off overdue property assessments and associated penalties, and close the books for 2011 with a small surplus, which we have carried into 2012. 

I am pleased to report that we have entered 2012 on a more solid financial footing.  Thank you for your support in making that happen. 

The Congregation Council is now working to finalize the 2012 budget, which contemplates modest salary increases for our staff for the first time in four years. 

As of today both the number and total amount of pledges are slightly above where they were a year ago at this time, but they are not yet sufficient to meet the needs of our preliminary budget and not yet at the final level of pledging and giving for 2011.

The Council has prepared an amended budget in response to the shortfall that defers some expenses until we are able to fund them without deficit spending.  Among the items on the list for deferral are increased benevolence to restore our giving to pre-2011 levels and to move back toward an ultimat goal of a tithe to our shared ministries through the Synod and the ELCA;  upgrades to our phone and computer systems to make them more reliable and efficient; modest increases to Faith Formation, Worship, and Outreach budgets to restore them partially to pre-2011 levels.

If pledges do not reach the final 2011 giving level, further reductions, in addition to those listed above, will need to be taken.  If pledges do reach that level, the items on the deferral list will be eliminated from the budget, but no further budget reductions will be necessary.  If pledges exceed the level of giving for 2011, we will be able to restore items on the deferral list to the budget, prioritizing them for funding based on their effect, directly or indirectly, on our ability to carry out our mission and ministries.

The Council is grateful for all that the congregation has done, financially and by taking on new responsibilities, to strengthen our financial position and to sustain and enliven our ministries. We ask for a renewal of those commitments.

The Development Committee and the Congregation Council are phoning members who have not yet made pledges to the congregation’s ministries for 2012 to ask that they prayerfully consider doing so.  Members who have not yet pledged or who would like to increase their pledges may do so via the Gloria Dei website or using a pledge card available from the church office.

I hope that you were able to participate in our review of the 2012 budget at the January 29 adult forum and that you will be present at our annual meeting on February 12, where we will celebrate our life of faith together and will conduct the important work of the congregation, including approval of the 2012 budget.

One of our final senior pastoral candidates reminds us that a budget is a mission statement.  Thank you again for your commitment to our community of faith and its mission and ministries.

Peace,

Claire Hoyum, President

Congregation Council