January 2010 Update
As you may know, our church recently completed the 2010 Stewardship campaign, with $483,464 in pledges as of 12/31/09. This represents a 10% increase in pledges over 2009. Last year, while we spent much less than budgeted, we still had a deficit of $68,345, (including flood repairs and Youth Room work). This year’s initial budget was $732,523. At the Church Council meeting on January 4th, the members agreed to a 2010 budget of $649,801. While some cuts were made in the proposed budget, the Council did not believe that we were able to make any more cuts to our vital ministry areas.
While we did reduce the budgets of several areas, as a Council, we believe that any more cuts will be detrimental to the life of our Church. We therefore will continue to promote our Stewardship campaign and look into other fundraising opportunities to help us meet our financial needs.
Many life transforming ministries are happening here at PUMC. We are reaching out to people in Trenton through the Isles Construction Work Days and service at Trenton Area Soup Kitchen; we are sending Mission Teams to Appalachia and the Congo; we open our building and host several community groups: Boy Scouts, 12 Step Recovery Groups, HUB (a life skills and fellowship group for adults with developmental issues). We provide Christian Education and musical opportunities for all age groups. And so much more. We want to continue reaching all people with these important ministries and be open to new ways we can nurture, teach, reach and serve in God’s name.
Please continue to keep the Church Council and the ministries of PUMC in your prayers as we move forward into 2010.
Consecration Sunday Update: To date we have received 136 Estimates of Giving totaling $483,464. We are pleased to report that there are 14 new commitments, 83 increased commitments, 31 equal to last year commitments, and 8 decreased commitments. If you have not yet turned in an Estimate of Giving Card please ask an usher for a card, and then place your completed card in the offering plate.
December Church Council Update
At the December Council meeting, the following were discussed and decisions made:
Finance and Stewardship. In order to maintain our financial records appropriately, we will keep both capital and operating budgets separately and charge relevant expenses to the appropriate budgets. As a result of this decision, certain expenses associated with the Youth Room will be reclassified as capital expenses. Going forward, the Trustees will recommend the appropriate classification of their expenses to the Finance Committee. Discussion was held about the use of the Line of Credit against the Endowment for Capital and non capital expenses and Finance will resolve with the Endowment Committee before the next meeting. Results of Consecration Sunday so far are positive in that pledged amounts exceed last year’s pledges. However, there is still a gap in the budget for next year. All committees will submit their budgets for 2010 remaining flat with 2009. The exception is the Trustees whose budget will need to increase to support continued maintenance. A vote on the 2010 budget will be held at the January Council meeting. Revenue from pledges for 2009 continues to be less than budgeted. The Finance Committee will communicate about this with the Congregation and make an appeal to people to bring their pledges up to date. It was recognized that we need to do more to keep the congregation informed about the financial situation at PUMC. The Finance Committee will develop a strategy for how we address the shortfall and make recommendations for how to close the gap for 2009 and increase income for 2010. Finance will send a proposal to the Council by December 20.
Committees. We began a review of committee accomplishments, goals for 2010 and obstacles to achieving those goals. Education and Worship committees reported at the December meeting. Everyone cited an obstacle being a need for more volunteers to be involved in committees and committee activities.
Outreach. There is a local family in desperate need of help. We will explore the possibility of how PUMC can “adopt” this family and help to provide financial support, support in finding jobs and providing basic needs to this family.
Capital Campaign. The Capital Campaign and Finance and Stewardship Committees met with a fund raising consultant to consider how to best launch the Capital Campaign. The committee will make a decision about whether or not to recommend using a consultant. In order to successfully launch the campaign, however, WE NEED LEADERSHIP from the congregation. We have a committee in place, but we still lack one or two people to chair or co-chair the committee. All Council members were asked to help in identifying possible members to ask, and we ask all members to prayerfully consider stepping up to fulfill this critical leadership need.
If you have any questions, please contact Bill C church-council2(at)princetonumc.org.
Church Council Update - November 2009
Over the last two months, the Church Council has dealt with a number of important issues for PUMC. Following is a summary of decisions that have been made:
Stewardship and Finance: We approved a new approach to the stewardship campaign for 2010, Consecration Sunday, which was on October 18 followed by a brunch and a luncheon after each of the services respectively. 2009 pledges continue to lag behind what was budgeted. We are now reporting status of weekly pledge and plate receipts in the bulletin and THE CHIMES along with attendance data.
Trustees: The church building sustained significant water damage over the summer. Some of this was the result of long-term problems as well as the damage from the significant rainfall in August and September. The Council approved immediate remediation for the downstairs and affected areas of the sanctuary. The Council also approved renovation to the sanctuary (replastering) and work to prevent more water from coming into the building. The estimate for remediation and renovation is approximately $60,000, with costs to be covered out of the Trustee budget and a line of credit against the Endowment Fund. The Council also approved installation of air conditioning in the sanctuary and Sanford Davis Room at the cost of approximately $125,000. This will also be paid through a line of credit against the Endowment Fund. These loans against the Endowment Fund will be repaid through funds raised during the Capital Campaign.
Capital Campaign: The Council voted to start the Capital Campaign by December 2009. The Trustees have itemized and prioritized the work that will be covered by the campaign including major renovations to the building, complete remodeling of the fellowship hall and kitchen and adjacent space in the downstairs, work needed to bring the building up to code, addition of a new sanctuary sound system and building security system, painting the sanctuary, and repairs and preservation of the stained glass windows. The Council approved a Capital Campaign in the amount of $1.5 million. We are looking for a Chair to lead the campaign. Existing members of the Capital Campaign Committee along with representatives from Council, Finance, Stewardship and Staff will had an initial meeting with a consultant on November 16.
Church Health Team: A new Church Health Team was formed to review the results of our second Natural Church Development assessment conducted in June and develop recommendations for addressing our new minimum factor, "Inspiring Worship Service."
Education: The Council approved changes to the Church School and Youth Music Programs. Beginning in November, Church School began in the sanctuary during the 9:30 service and the youth choirs now sing during the 9:30 service. Children will go to their classrooms following a children‘s sermon. During the 11 o‘clock service there is a Children‘s Church program following the children‘s sermon.
Growth: Council approved new pew pads and attendance sheets for members and visitors. The pew pads will include brochures for the many PUMC programs and we will have a visitors table set up every Sunday in the Sanford Davis Room.
For more information about other topics discussed, hard copies of the Council minutes are available in the Sanford Davis Room and on this website. If you have any questions, please contact Iona, Bill C, Rev. Jana Purkis-Brash, any of the Committee Chairs or any member of the Church Council.
