We've talked about our church's new vision--converting the parsonage into a center for youth ministry, Sunday School, and counseling--for the past couple weeks now. We've talked about needs in the community, the need to expand and formalize our ministry in these areas, the positive response this vision would engender, the fantastic transformation that would blow people's minds, and the low cost of the conversion. Only one question remains:
Why aren't we doing this right now?
Truth be told, we could. We have enough money in reserve to cover the parsonage conversion even without fundraising or community help. We could get this done tomorrow if we were so inclined. The costs are that modest, the conversion steps that clear.
But one major obstacle remains between us and achieving this town-transforming, church-transforming vision. While we have money in the bank right now we're not maintaining that balance.
Last year when the final numbers came in we ended up running a deficit of around $775 per month. But we also got some substantial contributions from folks who have passed on. We can't rely on that much income from that kind of source every year. We'll always get some memorial money, but it's not a reliable source of income. Reduce those one-time contributions down to a reasonable level and you end up with a running deficit of around $2800 per month, give or take. Considering that we'd be adding an extra $1100 per month in compensation with the parsonage move, it's not prudent to make this kind of commitment until our financial house is in better order.
A couple things to note:
1. The shortfall isn't anybody's fault. We've never talked about money or stewardship here really. We've intentionally left the subject alone because it's been so poisoned in the modern American religious culture. The first thing somebody thinks when you start talking about church is, "Oh. They want money." When you don't talk about these things it's just like not exercising. Things droop and get flabby. But we've had a great revival over the past couple of years and I think we know and trust each other enough to begin speaking of these things, being more conscious of them. That alone is going to improve the situation.
2. These numbers seem huge because when folks read them, they all imagine if they, themselves, had to make up that deficit out of their own pockets. That'd never happen. No shining cavalry will ride over the hill with saddle bags full of newly-discovered riches. But when you break it down by 70 or so families in our church orbit, last year's actual deficit was a little over $10 per month per family. Even without the memorials that's $40 per month, or $10 per week, per family. Not everybody has that, but it doesn't take that much scrounging to figure out how to make up even a large-seeming shortfall. We just need to take our financial stewardship seriously to do it.
Our church council is taking up this matter and will be coming forth with a framework for our stewardship discussions this year. All we ask is that when the time comes, trust us, have faith in the ministry of this church, and participate in those conversations.
Also realize that it's not a matter of having a vision or doing the same old. The vision gives us a goal for our giving beyond just ourselves...a really, really good reason to address our finances and stewardship. But the choice to abandon that task would not mean preserving the church as it is. Those financial reserves won't last forever. Eventually we'd be forced into a discussion of stewardship when the money ran out. Except then instead of talking about giving to support a wonderful, transforming vision we'd be talking about giving just to keep ourselves afloat for another year. Those are two very different conversations. The first speaks of life and hope, the second of fear and death. People will give to support life and hope, not so much to the other.
If we get to the point where we honestly have to talk about stewardship just to keep our church going, I don't anticipate that conversation going well or people responding to it. At that point you're looking at alternative solutions. Not only do you not have a vision and a youth/education/counseling center, you probably don't have resources for a full-time pastor anymore. Once upon a time splitting churches worked...the Valley and St. John's being an example for decades. It doesn't work anymore. It's nearly impossible to find churches in close enough physical proximity with the same size and the same needs. You end up sharing a pastor with a distant church. You get less ministry attention which means less enthusiasm and giving. This compounds the problem. Once you're on that slide it's hard--not impossible, but hard--to get off. Many churches end up functioning with a 1/2 or 1/3 time pastor but they're just functioning...staying open to stay open. At that point you're a generation (or less) away from closing no matter what you do.
If you look at that last paragraph, that doesn't describe the ministry, people, or spirit of our church at all. That's exactly why we need to pursue these stewardship talks and our vision of life and hope...making our financial life reflect who we really are. We have to understand that we're doing this precisely so we can use our reserves how they're supposed to be used--to further our vision and ministry--instead of using them to keep ourselves afloat until we're forced into a corner and have to do something about it or close. Eventually we're going to spend the money either way. The only question is whether we'll spend it on the vision or whether we'll spend it trying to fill a deficit over the next few years and not have anything to show for it at the end but panic.
We're addressing this early and well so it can be a spirit-filled, life-filled conversation. Please join us in that conversation as it commences over the next year and do what you can in the meantime to support the people and ministries of our church.
--Pastor Dave (pastordave@geneseelutheranparish.org)
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