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Agenda. Opening prayer Meeting protocol Financials Process Hope – Next steps. Welcome! Thank you all for coming Listen, digest, understand Give everyone a chance to speak Display an economy of words Assume good intent Forgive the past and focus on the future
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Agenda • Opening prayer • Meeting protocol • Financials • Process • Hope – Next steps
Welcome! Thank you all for coming • Listen, digest, understand • Give everyone a chance to speak • Display an economy of words • Assume good intent • Forgive the past and focus on the future • Seek first the Kingdom of God! “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:3-5
Illustration of typical yearly cash flow(When we have available reserves) Repay Reserves Funds from Reserves Beginning Balance Cash Flow Jan June Dec
This Year is not typical(insufficient reserves) Cannot “Repay” Dedicated June “Loan” from Dedicated Fund Funding from “Special appeal” Beginning Balance ? December Cash Flow
Financial Crisis – why? • Reduced giving units • Economy downturn Current giving running at an effective 87% of pledge vs. budgeted 95%
Financial crisis – cost cuts taken • 3% payroll cut (8.4K annual savings) • Reduced benevolence (6.2 to 5% - 6-10K savings) • Eliminated business mgr – ($18.3 savings) • Reduced landscaping (10k savings) • Dedicated funds used as appropriate (5K savings) • Property improvements reduced (? Savings) • Initiated Special appeal for 25K but did not kick-off till after Lent ($8415 collected to date) • Approximate 50K in total savings
Financial crisis – why didn’t you know? • The weekly “For the Record” was ambiguous • Appeal letters did not adequately convey severity of situation
Financial crisis – June status • Borrowed 10K from dedicated funds • Based on previous cost cuts we felt compelled to look at staffing levels • Overstaffed based on similar sized congregations per synod guidelines • Reduced giving trend • NO RESERVES!
Financial issues - FAQ • What other options, if any, were considered? • Furloughs, further salary cuts etc… • (furloughs – not of value; salary cuts – already made) • Why not let one of the pastors go? • (Synod involvement long process, 2/3 vote, potentially divisive) • Why were large facility expenses made during crisis? • (made in early ’08, some gifted, some mandatory – AC units, elevator)
Staff reduction decision process • July 13th Executive committee meeting held and staff layoff reduction deemed necessary • July 28th layoff recommendation presented to council • Formal vote not required • Discussion followed echoing current congregation concerns • Executive committee and council chose to exercise their fiduciary responsibility to keep Esperanza solvent
Layoff process – FAQ’s • Why was there no notice given? • (Verbal notification provided in early May) • (In lieu of 2 weeks notice 2 weeks severance provided) • What is their severance package? • ( 2 weeks + unused vacation) • Why were they walked out? • (No one was walked out – Minerva same day, Dave 3 days)
New Hope – what's next? • How do we manage? • Pastor Pam’s vision • Get help from the synod • Plan for the next year or two
Wanted! Servants of God who wish to use their skills in (and out of) the office. Welcoming presence in the office Planning, organization, implementation and support Record keeping and filing Bulletins and Newsletter
Wanted! Servants of God who wish to use their skills in worship & music Be part of worship planning teams (by season) Lead Bell Tigers and beginning bell choir Lead adult choir Lead youth choir(s) Sing, play bells, play other musical instruments for worship
Wanted! A coordinator of volunteers - someone who can organize and coordinate schedules and times for all who want to help
What stays Regular worship & Music -8 & 9:15 accompanists -10:30 praise bands Choirs Bible studies Christmas Program VBS
What could be suspended Original musicals? Bell choir (s)?
A Vision Through the end of the year Keep our eyes on Jesus Look for opportunities to improve communications Focus on volunteer leadership Healing of our church family Finish in the black financially - Form a Finance committee Begin worship planning teams again Celebrate Festival Days
A Vision – cont’d Next Year and forward Keep centered in the Gospel Continue good financial standing Look for opportunities to improve communications Reach out to our neighbors Explore an “Esperanza West” with Emerging Church philosophy Connect with Monte Vista in new ways Connect with other congregations
Go in Peace Serve the Lord