August 27, 2017

 

Dear Members and Friends of Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church,

 

The conversation at today's Let's Talk Financial Resiliency III was lively, with some asking why the Session brought just one resiliency option to the congregation in its letter of August 17 instead of several choices. Our answer is simple.  So far, over a year of study has brought to light only one option which meets the Session's criteria for sustainability and resiliency: downsizing from the church-owned home at 110 Tarry to a less expensive pastor housing/rental property. Here are the criteria:

(1) pastor housing option which is affordable to the church and a future pastor;

(2) reduce our debt (SHPC is the 4th most indebted church of the 48 churches in our regional body);

(3) establish a capital improvement/maintenance fund to meet the significant needs of the church facility, so that we invest in our church;

(4) increase the operating budget without putting additional stress on our pledgers, so that unmet staffing, facilities, and program needs can be met (the "structural deficit") and the church can continue to grow and flourish;

(5) direct precious volunteer energy and hours into God's work. 

  

The Session is postponing the survey previously promised for today, and is inviting the Manse and Capital Improvement Study Team to re-convene as the Financial Resiliency Alternate Team, and to accept newcomers who feel called to help them identify feasible alternates to the Session's downsizing option by mid-November. Please contact the church office to volunteer by clicking here.

In peace,

THE SESSION OF SHPC

Dennis Latta, Clerk, Doug Eisinger, Finance Elder, Jody Brockett, Worship Elder, Patti Vance, Mission Elder, Janel Stewart, Family Ministries Elder, Ahmed Abu-Aly, Building and Grounds Elder, Merle Ongaro, Membership Elder, Kit Argilla, Board of Deacons, Moderator, Rev. Bev Brewster, Pastor