Narrative Budgets Telling the Story of Your Ministry

1. Narrative Budgets Telling the Story of Your Ministry Welcome! If you can see this, you're connected correctly. The workshop will start at the top of the hour. In the meantime, please use the “flip chart” to the left of this pod for some informal chat. Simply type your comment in the white space at the bottom of the flipchart, and press “Enter.” You might start by mentioning where you're from. The United Church of Canada L'Église Unie du Canada Eastertide 2013

2. Introductions Introducing the facilitators How to use the space Opening prayer

3. Mighty and tender God, • Creator and giver of life and all things • We give our thanks and praiseWe are especially thankful forthe blessings of this day … • Mighty and tender God,We ask your blessing upon our work and ministry, our response to your call to be the Church • To celebrate God’s presence • To live with respect in Creation • To love and serve others • To seek justice and resist evil • To proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. • Mighty and tender God, • In your loving purpose help us to use and share the gifts you have given us to contribute to your mission. • In all things give us the grace and wisdom to accept your will. • In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

4. Using a Narrative Budget to Communicate Mission Movie Clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykAMSeUXzhQ

5. Small Group Discussion “CGAs see more than numbers, they see the impact and opportunity behind them” (1) What is the “mission” of Steam Whistle Brewery? (2) How are “the numbers” used to communicate the mission in this commercial? (3) This is not a commercial for Steam Whistle Brewery; it's a commercial about accountants. What kind of role is this commercial trying to highlight for the accountants in a business? In a church?

6. Facilitated Discussion via “The flipchart” How are these two budgets different from each other? What can you learn about the mission of the congregation from each one? What is God doing through this congregation, and how do you know? In a sentence ... what is a narrative budget?

7. A Narrative Budget ... ... does not replace a line item budget for accounting purposes ... is a communications tool to transform a line item of money & expenses into an exciting and enlivening picture of ministries and missional expressions of the congregation ... recognizes that you do not give money to the church; you give money through the churchto translate God's mission into action

8. Sharing the StoryLooking at More Detail STRUCTURE WORSHIP LEARNINGChristian Development / Faith Formation / Christian Education / CARINGPastoral Care (including Welcome / Fellowship / Hospitality and also care of the Property) REACHING OUTCommunity Presence / Outreach(including M&S / support of local initiatives)

9. Sharing the StoryLooking at More Detail FOR EACH AREA Describe your MinistryProvide a list; Focus on IMPACT. Show your Ministry - Photograph(s); Charts TestimoniesQuotes / Video Treasure - Financials Total cost; percentage of the total budget; $x of every $100 supports … Time # of volunteer hours; % of staff time Future focus How you be involved; What more we could be doing

10. Where & how could you use this sort of tool in your congregation? “Internal” Stewardship campaign - posters Annual meeting Thank you's with tax receipts Highlight ministry areas: 1/month; 1/week prior to the AGM; bulletin insert Use the areas as the agenda structure for meetings Create a children’s edition Planning tool; use at congregational conference Volunteer recognition “External” New members' program Visitor's info Website Grant applications Advocacy initiatives Communication opportunity with ‘silent’ or lapsed members; wider community empathetic to the UCC Share with presbytery and ecumenically

11. Five Benefits Communicates complex financial information for a broader audience Links vision, values & ministry with financial priorities Helps develop a deeper understanding of stewardship Inspires members in their giving because they can see how their generous gifts make a difference, and change lives Encourages members to discuss the needs of the ministry more deeply, tell others about the work of the congregation, and see their own stewardship as an expression of their faith

12. Small Group Exercise (1) Make a list of all the activities in your own congregation that fall within a particular category (2) How are lives being changed by this part of your church's work? Try to identify 5 different ways and write one sentence about each (3) What percentage of the following (approximately!!) is used to make this happen Minister's or Program Staff's time Administrator's time Office Supplies, Paper, phone, copying etc. Building: room use, heat/light, repairs

13. Reporting Back What did you learn about your church as you began to create a narrative budget? What questions emerged for you in this process?

14. Follow up By the end of the week you will receive a package of materials including this presentation and some extra enrichments to help you on your way. Financial Development Officers are there to help

15. Financial Development Officers Heather Mclean – Londonhmclean@united-church.ca Lisa Di Veto – Hamiltonldiveto@sympatico.ca Deb Hopper – TorontoDHopper@united-church.ca Keith Stam – Quinte, Manitoukstam@united-church.ca Paul Sales – Montreal, Ottawa psales@united-church.ca Pam Harrison – Maritimepharrison@united-church.ca Clyde Flight – Newfoundland & LabradorCFlight@united-church.ca

16. Evaluation Thank you for joining us this evening! Please take a few moments to help us improve this presentation for the next group, by adding any comments/suggestions you may have about the PROCESS, and CONTENT, and let us know what was your MOST VALUABLE LEARNING Susan Graham Walkersgwalker@united-church.ca