A Message From Our Finance Chair
I want to emphasize the message our Treasurer delivered. In a nutshell, our giving the last four years has been less than our expenses and we have used up reserves that had been built over several years.
As our stewardship campaign for 2019 begins, it is essential that the Finance Committee receives sufficient pledges to give us a clear understanding of the expected giving and allow us to prepare a budget that is based upon these pledges. This will be a major departure from what has occurred in the past. The number of people pledging has been so low that we had to estimate giving based upon numerous factors from the past, and trust reserves to cover any shortfall. This year we do not have those reserves to carry us through if there is a shortfall. If such circumstances arise we will have no choice but to reduce expenditures which may mean cutting programs that we all have grown to love.
So please, fill out a pledge card. Individual pledges are always confidential, only the Financial Secretary sees them. So mail it in, bring it to Lee in the office, or fold it over and put it in the collection plate, but give us a commitment so we can write a budget that continues or even improves the good works SUMC does.
Thank You.
Thomas Burdg, Finance Chair
