Our 2008 Stewardship Campaign
This year, the Finance Committee has taken on the Stewardship Campaign. The theme for the Fall Campaign is “Strengthening our Roots to Harvest the Fruits of our Labor.” The new campaign brochure sent out to all members, highlights where the church has been ( our “Roots”), multiple new initiatives for 2008 ( our “ Growth”), and the churches plans to meet these growing needs (“Cultivation”).
We are richly blessed by strong and innovative leadership -- clergy, staff, and members -- from which we’ve extended our reach, reinforced the success of existing programs, and delved deep into plans for 2008
It is when times get tough that God asks the most of us. 2008 will be a difficult year due to many increased costs including the need to include $168,000 extra to our budget to cover annual mortgage principal and interest costs. This is to pay yearly the principal and interest on the $1.7 million debt still owed from the first campaign. For the last few years these expenses have been paid directly by ongoing Capital Campaigns but in 2008 will need to be raised through stewardship as part of the operating budget. Attention also needs to be paid to the property needs of our buildings and parsonages in the years ahead.
In the last ten years we have felt the excitement of renovating the entire inside of the building. We did a great job of articulating our needs and raised money to pay for most of the costs.
We now need to develop a culture of stewardship so that we can continue to pay for both the day to day costs of the church as well as our outreach to the local community as well as the international community. It is time for all of us to step up and support our church.
Read the material, ask questions, and fill out your pledge card so that the work we have started can continue in 2008 and beyond. We need everyone’s help.
Please consult our Contribution Policy for additional information provided by our Finance Committee on giving to the church.
