Being a new committee chair is a learning and discerning process, a process which includes understanding how things are done and with input from many others, attempting to identify opportunities for improvement. Working in collaboration with the various committees and fundraising groups, a somewhat delayed draft 2023 Budget was prepared, sent to and approved by Church Council at the February meeting. This process involved wonderful people all focused on helping SUMC maximize our positive impact in spreading God’s message of hope to our community while meeting the needs of our members and others in our church community.

Our goals are to provide all interested stake holders with regular information about church finances and to broaden opportunities to both serve our members and our broader community, as well as assuring the long-term viability of maintaining the beautiful and very prominent building we have been entrusted. In this regard, a Capital Budget designated contribution line of $10,000 was added to the budget with the hope that in addition to your regular giving, you will consider designating additional giving for “Capital.” The budget reflects an increase in expenses, significantly impacted by large increases in utility costs stemming from increased unit costs, as well as post Covid increased usage of facilities, as well as other inflationary cost increases.

Here is a comparison of the 2022 actual and 2023 budget.

A few areas we will be exploring in 2023 include:

• A stewardship focused educational program

• Potential use of tax advantaged giving for those of us over 72 with retirement accounts

• Use of wills and trusts to benefit the mission of the church now and after each of us move on to our heavenly home

• As guided by our Trustees, the intentional building of a more substantial Capital Fund, to both relieve annual budget stress when major repairs or maintenance are required, as well as better assuring the ability to maintain our beautiful building

It should be noted that with a combination of special designated giving, focused fundraising, and allocation of margin (profits) in very good years, we have been able to pay off the substantial loan used to partially finance the 2014 sanctuary project. It is my hope that a portion of special giving associated with loan repayment will be directed to the Capital Fund.

We appreciate your patience and welcome suggestions and comments.

Photo by Eric