The facts of life about St. Paul's finances and budget

At our annual meeting Sunday, I outlined the facts of life about our finances at St. Paul's and the highlights of our proposed budget for 2010. I am giving you that information here as well today.

Resources

First, by way of background, I have talked with several pastors in our area, and every congregation in Charlottesville is now feeling the impact of the recession, and we are not immune to the downturn.

Our parish has much abundance and many resources. We have raised $655,000 in financial pledges for 2010, thanks to the generosity of many of you.

That said, we are still $25,000 short from what was pledged in 2009, and that is requiring us to make some hard decisions about our budget for 2010. There are several reasons why our pledges are smaller than 2009, including the deaths of a few long-time members and the fact that we have not received pledge cards from a number of people who pledged in 2009.

If you have not pledged for the year, please do so. If you can increase your pledge, please do so. Our ministries can remain strong only with the contributions of our people. Every pledge is significant, and everyone can pledge something because God has given everyone has something to pledge. As Dudley Rochester, our stewardship chair, pointed out at the annual meeting, less than half of our regular members make a financial pledge. If everyone pledged something, we would have a very good cushion against losing pledges.

The budget for 2010

The budget we are proposing to the Vestry totals $843,608, and it is a balanced budget. It does not tap into reserves funds to balance the budget, as we did in the past few years.

As I mentioned, $655,000 comes from pledges, and the rest from endowment interest and rental income from properties that we own. We also are depending on a grant of $18,500 from the Diocese of Virginia for University ministry.

The budget we are proposing fully funds our $55,000 commitment to outreach ministries and organizations in the community. Last year we tapped a restricted reserve fund (the misnamed "Emergency Fund" which is a restricted fund for outreach) to fulfill that commitment. A hardworking task force examined our outreach grants this year, and I am confident we are putting our money where it will have the most impact. This year we will give grants only with operating funds. Any additional funds raised for outreach, for example for Haiti, will be in on top of that $55,000.

We are also meeting our commitment to the ministry of the Diocese of Virginia with a contribution of $71,000. Also, we are making a financial commitment to forming the future leaders of the Episcopal Church by making a total contribution of $6,500 to the seminaries of our church.

The Diocese of Virginia has one of the lowest (probably the lowest) parish apportionments in the Episcopal Church. By way of comparison, the church where I worked in Sacramento had a similar size budget to this one, and the apportionment was more than $200,000 a year to the diocese.

Our St. Paul's parish programs will remain strong through worship, prayer, education, music, and university ministries. All are funded at the same level as the year before. We are also setting aside $24,000 for building repairs, which is significantly less than the previous year but will allow us to maintain the building in safe working order.

That said, I must be candid with you about the condition of our building. We will need to commence a capital campaign to renovate and update our buildings in a year or two. We cannot wait much longer. Others sacrificed to give these buildings to us, and we got them for free; and to us comes the obligation to give them to future generations in better condition than they are now.

Our proposed budget also has significant cuts, and no pay raises except for our hard-working sexton. We will no longer purchase subscriptions for St. Paul’s members to the diocesan newspaper. We will no longer fund the discretionary funds of the clergy (you are welcome to make individual contributions for those funds).

We are also making difficult and deep cuts in our office operation, and that means we need volunteers to answer phones and greet people during weekday business hours. If you are interested, please talk to me soon.

The proposed budget is balanced, focused on serving people, and will keep our ministries vital and vibrant.

Photos by Bonny Bronson.

Please come to our annual meeting today

Later this morning, at 11:30 am, we will convene our annual meeting. Please come if you can. Voting for new Vestry members is underway, and the polls will close after our 5:30 pm worship service later this afternoon.

At the annual meeting, we will hear a number of reports on the state of the parish and our finances. And I plan to give the first awards of the St. Paul's Cross to several individuals for their extraordinary service in the past year. You will have to come to find out who they are. They will receive medallions with our logo to the right.

Below is my written report for 2009 that will appear in the published annual report, and I will elaborate on this at the annual meeting. Please do come, and please vote.

Rector's Report for 2009

The year 2009 continued to be a year of transition both for St. Paul’s and for Lori and myself as we settled into our new community of Charlottesville.

At St. Paul’s, we underwent significant staff changes even as we launched new ministries that will have a large impact on our congregation and the world around us in the years ahead.

The Rev. Dr. David McIlhiney, who as an associate rector was a mainstay of St. Paul’s during the interim period, decided to retire at mid-year. I am exceedingly grateful to David for remaining at St. Paul’s for the first year of my ministry among you, and especially for his sound advice and compassionate pastoral care.

In August, we welcomed The Rev. Dr. Ann Willms as our new associate rector for pastoral care. Ann has taken on a myriad of tasks, from hospital visits, to working with several small groups, and liturgical leadership on Sunday. I am absolutely delighted to have Ann as a colleague working with us at St. Paul’s.

Late in the year, Dr. Don Loach retired as music director after more than 37 years in this post. His personal dedication to St. Paul’s is unparalleled, and his dedication to the high standard of music at St. Paul’s will be hard to match. I have appointed Bruce Carveth to chair a search committee to recommend to me a candidate for our next music director. In the meantime, Daniel Hine will serve as our interim music director.

I am very grateful to our office and building staff for their hard work and dedication: John Reid, Tony Potter, Debbie Little, Jaime Jackson and Andre Jones. I am also very grateful to Pat Punch and his newly established Buildings and Grounds Ministry Team for the work they’ve done on several major projects. The building is was in significantly better condition at the end of 2009 than it was at the beginning.

Meanwhile, Joan Albiston and a dedicated group of volunteers, won approval from the City of Charlottesville Board of Architectural Review for the design of a meditation garden on our grounds, paid for with contributions by many of you in honor of The Rev. David Poist when he retired as rector. Construction of the garden should commence in Spring 2010.

At the end of 2008, I mentioned three goals for the life of our parish. Those goals are, I believe, crucial to the vitality of St. Paul’s now and into the future. These goals are foundational to everything I am attempting to do with you at St. Paul’s.
Those goals are:

1- Becoming more intentional in how we welcome new people and help them find a meaningful spiritual home at St. Paul’s.

2- Becoming more outwardly focused as a beacon of Christ’s hope to the community and world beyond our church walls.

3- Deepening and expanding our commitment of ministry to the people of the University of Virginia to enable them to be a beacon of Christ’s hope to the community and world.

We made significant progress on each of these goals in 2009, though we still have much to do. A few developments worth noting on each of those goals:

1- All members of the clergy staff made hospital visits and met with parishioners and visitors. We also launched a 24-hour “hotline” telephone number for emergency pastoral care concerns (434.806.9069).

In addition to our Sunday morning adult education, with the leadership of The Rev. Janet Legro, we reestablished the popular Wednesday Community Night with Evening Prayer and a myriad of adult classes. In 2009, we also laid the groundwork for a Stephen Ministry program for lay pastoral care with the leadership of Ann Willms. You will hear more about this in 2010. We also spruced up our ministry to newcomers, led by Stephanie Bolton and Ann Willms.

2- The Vestry renewed its commitment to an outward focus by allocating $55,000 in grants to organizations in our community, and establishing a new working group called “Ministry Beyond Our Walls” with the leadership of Marsha Trimble and Doug Little. We also contributed $67,000 to the work of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, and raised significant funds for Episcopal Relief & Development, the African Development Project and the One Campaign. We hosted homeless people through PACEM, and our own John Frazee was elected president of IMPACT, a coalition of congregations working for systemic change in Charlottesville. Also, with the leadership of The Rev. Neal Halvorson-Taylor and a dedicated group of students and parishioners, we planted and harvested a community garden in a predominantly African American neighborhood. Our youth group completed service mission trips to Mississippi and the Pine Ridge Reservation of South Dakota with the leadership of Janet Legro and Jonathan Schyner.

3- Our ministry commitment to the community of the University of Virginia remains pivotal to the life of St. Paul’s. We held fall and spring convocation Sundays for the University community. With leadership from Neal Halvorson-Taylor, and interns Hannah Trible and Matthew Lukens, our Canterbury Fellowship remained strong and established a Taize service on Tuesday evenings at the University Chapel. In addition, we awarded $184,000 in scholarships to University students through the Skinner scholarship bequest.

As we launch our centennial year, we have much to be proud of, and much work left to do. Again, thank you for the honor of calling me to be your ninth Rector, and thank you for your generosity and spirit that makes all things possible. You truly are the hands and heart of Christ in the world.

Blessings,

James+

What do you think about St. Paul's? We asked, here is what you said

You may recall that last Fall we hosted a series of "cottage meetings" that were small group gatherings in homes and an opportunity to talk about St. Paul's.

Many of you participated, and we asked that the leaders at each meeting record what was said and report it to our Stewardship Ministry Team.

Not long ago, Dudley Rochester compiled and synthesized those reports into a very readable and fascinating portrait of St. Paul's and where we stand at the moment in the life of our parish. Dudley presented this report to the Vestry, and I am reprinting it below in full. Please read, and please do come to our annual meeting this Sunday Feb. 14 after the 10 am service.

Here's the report:

SPMC Cottage Meetings 2009: Analysis of Ideas & Suggestions
Collated and Edited by Dudley Rochester, Chair, Stewardship 2009 Team

January 16, 2010

Executive Summary

As part of the Stewardship 2009 campaign, approximately 200 parishioners at St. Paul’s Memorial church attended 21 cottage meetings. For each meeting there was a recorder, and the proceedings below reflect the principal comments and suggestions that were made. Many areas were commented upon multiple times. The edited comments capture the key points, but eliminate most of the redundancy.

The report is divided into sections on Worship/Liturgy/Music, People & Diversity, Youth & Youth Program, Outreach, Ministry to the University of Virginia, Building & Environment, Finances, and Outside St. Paul’s. The first two categories occupy more than 40% of the report. Overall, the comments were very positive, and the suggestions were extremely thoughtful.

Your editor perceives several major themes. The worship, liturgy and music are highly valued. Most parishioners also speak positively about the increasing diversity along age, socio-economic and other lines. Most parishioners also support our inreach and outreach programs to those in need, whether the need is emotional, spiritual, or economic.

Three primary areas of concern are 1) to ensure that St. Paul’s will always have a place for people who simply want to come for worship and prayer. 2) Are we doing enough to meet needs within the congregation as well as in the outlying community? 3) Dealing with the tension between inreach and outreach, and managing outreach so that it does not become unmanageable.

Worship/Liturgy/Music

Appreciating & Enjoying What We Have

The multiple and various blessings of worship services at St. Paul’s are what most parishioners like best about our church. Blessed times include during the Liturgy when we all recite the same prayers, creeds, and liturgy; serving the Eucharist and seeing people around the Holy Table; being quiet and listening to words said for centuries. Several mentioned chanting the liturgy, one likes the 8 AM service, and another singled out Rite 1. Visual impressions were also powerful, for example, seeing acolytes and interns standing at the Holy Table during The Great Thanksgiving with its wonderful symbolism and inclusiveness. Several comments referred positively to the presence of the children and the procession of the children, the articulate and happy young people.

Parishioners want to become more focused and more spiritually grounded. They value times when one may be quiet and still, for example, just before the service begins, at the opening of the service, i.e. the introit and call to silence and worship, hearing scripture being read, during prayers, during prayers for peace, or during prayers for the people, reading of names of those killed in combat, and well as remembrance of the unnamed citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan; at the Peace, in the quiet time after communion. One parishioner commented on the serendipity, not knowing how the service will affect her/him; another likes having the diverse clergy, with different styles and personalities, a third likes the feeling of being in communion with a deceased son.

The spiritual space St. Paul’s provides is very important, along with knowing it is there to be called on. Parishioners appreciate opportunities for learning about and practicing prayer and spirituality. They like to feel useful, and the feeling of belonging during the service and music. Knowing the people who are there and who are reaching out, and when they are serving others. Knowing that we are all on different points of spiritual journeys.

Many expressed appreciation for the high quality of preaching by all our clergy. They like the sermons, the teaching of the clergy (through sermons and other means). Several parishioners said that they also like Jim Richardson’s blog, keeping up to date with the parish, diocese, and church. Parishioners who are hard of hearing are grateful to have the service program.

Music was often cited as a major asset. One parishioner feels blessed by music, especially when her/his daughter is singing.

Suggestions for Improvements

Parishioners asked insightful questions about what the focus of St. Paul’s efforts should be. For example, is the primary function of the church comfort or challenge (pastoral or prophetic)? We need to balance the two. Some would like more challenge, some more comfort.

SPMC must make sure that there is a place for people who simply wanted to come to Sunday service for prayer and meditation - and nothing else. We must make sure that we are all being nurtured and getting a spiritual lift.

We need greater ministry among ourselves, to provide emotional encouragement and support. Implement Stephen Ministry and expand pastoral care. Continue small group sessions, small “interest” groups, whether for contemplation or action. Resume pilgrimages.

A few parishioners want the church to be dignified and to use the High Altar more frequently. Several want to resume Taize chants. One group suggested that we have a music festival with area church choirs coming together to sing, not compete.

People & Diversity

What We Are Doing Now

One parishioner (or group of parishioners) appreciates our church for being bountiful, exhausting, welcoming, joyful, rich in many ways, including the people and the traditions, a multi-faceted talented and generous community; for being glorious, pliable, politically, economically, and socially diverse; for the non-judgmental nature of the congregation, and for welcoming a diversity of people with different income levels.

All are welcome and accepted! We must ensure that everyone has a way to actively participate in discussion/ has a voice. We must know and be sensitive to the needs of others. We need to know more about individuals to make the community stronger. Help groups of people to meet one another. Note: some parishioners voiced their unease with the street people who are occasionally around.

Many express gratitude for St. Paul’s sense of community combined with a welcoming, inclusive spirit. Newcomers' Luncheons and other deliberate efforts to integrate newcomers into the congregation are much appreciated.

What More Could Be Done?

Are we doing enough to reach needs within the congregation, as well as outside the congregation? This includes not only physical needs but also emotional needs, and pastoral care concerns. Can support for our own parishioners be strengthened, even when a parishioner doesn't ask for help or make his/her crisis known? Provide compassionate pastoral care during difficult times.

Offer childcare during Adult Education. Offer skill-building classes such as working with computers, creating a resume, etc. at Community Night. Provide transportation for senior citizens to help them attend Community Night. Have mentors for newcomers, someone who is astute in recognizing spiritual gifts.

Increase our diversity; be the place that brings people together even as our society may cause people to feel separated; provide a home, a family; help people to feel needed, recognize that everyone has something to give; recognize that some people come to St. Paul’s for renewal and sustenance in order to go out into the world to do their work. Continue to be inclusive and welcoming. Create more opportunities for involvement; engage the diverse group of people in taking leadership roles in the church.

Can we be more open to the African American community? Can we be more open to the Hispanic community? We should fund a part-time position and hire a person that is equipped to minister to the Hispanic community, perhaps even have a Hispanic service.

Youth & Youth Program

As noted in the first section, parishioners like witnessing our children running around, feeling so comfortable at church, and forming their own friendships.

Forming intergenerational connections is also seen as very positive. There is concern for the intergenerational aspects of the parish, for giving a larger role to the younger communicants, yet still including the older ones; for building bridges across the generations while focusing on the young.

One group asked if there is there a good program for the 6th-8th grade group, or are they falling in between. Do the middle school and high school groups participate fully enough in the congregational life and in the Sunday services? Should all children be in Sunday services more than they are?

Quoting verbatim: “Kudos for Janet Legro and her merry band of volunteers.” Parishioners want to support the Youth Group and its mission to Native Americans. Perhaps the youth program should work with area Episcopal churches, and help youth groups get together for Foxfield events, fairs, etc.

Outreach

Use this centennial time as a rallying point, to look inward as well as outward. St. Paul’s should consider its community in 3 ways: within the individual, within the church and beyond the church. There is a tension between inreach and outreach, and we must balance our inward and outward journeys. Should our time and resources be devoted to enhancing our worship or helping others? St. Paul’s is already moving toward more opportunities to develop our spiritual side, including the EFM programs and other opportunities for spiritual growth. This leads into our outward ministries. Balancing St. Paul’s needs with those of the larger world is always a challenge.

Manage the outreach programs so that they don’t grow too fast and become unmanageable. Reorganize, streamline and get younger. We must respond well to need for more outreach. Continue ministries such as Salvation Army, AIM, community garden, prayer shawl; Friends in Deed, Community Night, clothing drive. Create a food pantry. Pursue practical projects such as the community garden.
Provide service to the greater community, to anyone, in any condition, who comes through the doors. Have more face-to-face contact with people in need. We should address the poorest in our community, the people who are hurting for the basics of food and shelter. Should we address these issues directly (purchase a house for homeless women), or work through other agencies?

Help others, both locally and in other states/countries. Keep up the amount of money and service given to the community at large. Develop a Volunteerism Program as done in Federal Executive Trust. We'd like to have more interaction with the Black Churches as we did in the past. Increase interaction with other faiths.

Ministry to University of Virginia

Renew and bolster the original mission of St. Paul’s, to support the University. This has strong support. The University ministry should be directed toward all components of the University community, students, staff and faculty. The ministry to the University might need a dedicated, endowed position.

Specific comments include: St. Paul’s should involve University students more, and consider University student involvement with the Youth Group. A positive first step is that UVA students are more visible in the services. The community garden is a great way to get to know students better. Recruit and involve student volunteers. Seek to involve more students in our church. How can we be more involved with the students? How can we help with the Sunday night dinners?

Recruit volunteers from UVA faculty and staff, as well as students. Develop a closer relationship with the university, including the hospital. Consider mounting efforts specific to particular segments of the University, to include graduate a well as undergraduate components. Do our professors realize that their teaching in many cases is a ministry, just as many of us have ministries in the world. Recruit a more diverse group from UVA, maybe using the International House.

Building & Environment

The church building is a basis of support for what lies ahead. Take care of the building and grounds; find space for all the needs including more/better gathering space, parking, and an educational wing; make the education wing handicapped accessible.

We need a greener church, including car-pooling. Join community, Region XV and Diocesan efforts at conserving water and energy.

Finances

Focus on building the financial strength of the parish: Increase the number and amounts of pledges, and state the specific pledge need in the Newsletter. Vestry should ask parishioners to consider raising their pledge a certain amount or certain percentage. Aim for 100% support from pledging units.

Make the budget more alive and visible; minutes and budget should be on-line. Make the grants committee work.

Remember St. Paul’s in your will; make giving easy to do; educate parish community about planned giving.

Create a more substantial endowment. St. Paul’s must develop corporate support for its mission and outreach.

Outside SPMC

Rise to the challenges of the day ahead of others. Have St. Paul's step up as a voice in the in the Diocese. We should become a leader in community, in Diocese of Virginia and in US Episcopal Church.

St. Paul's should become more active socially and politically. Interweave St. Paul’s goals with things already going on in the community – like the City’s Dialogue on Race. St. Paul’s may want to link up with the Episcopal Public Policy network.
Support community programs that work (e.g. Drug Court). Participate in key state issues, for example, reform of Virginia’s prison system. Parishioners present at this meeting want St. Paul’s to be even better in community and Diocesan venues in the future. Serious concerns were expressed about the level of financing of St. Paul’s mission, and with regard to supporting key sociological issues in Virginia.

Photo of St. Paul's bell tower by Bonny Bronson.

Annual meeting tonight

The St. Paul's annual meeting is tonight at 7 pm in the sanctuary, preceded by a huge potluck all over the building. Even if you can't come for dinner, come to the church for the meeting. You can vote for Vestry members throughout the day; tonight we will have a little entertainment, a few reports and speeches (like from me) and awards! Hope to see tonight! And I will post my remarks on this blog later tonight.

Blessings to all,

Jim+