Dear friends,

At our 2021 Annual Meeting this past December, we as a congregation approved an annual budget of $1.2 million for 2022 which reflected a comprehensive and aspirational view of our congregation’s revenue and expenses. And together, we raised over $938,000 during the 2022 Annual Fund Drive, putting it in the top two most successful pledge drives ever. Unfortunately, as we enter the second half of 2022, we have a budget shortfall of $260,000.
 
Why & How We Found Ourselves Here
Clearly, these are difficult times we live in, with the after-shocks of the pandemic still being felt in our religious community. With little-to-no in-person gatherings over the past two years, some people feel disconnected from our congregation and each other as our in-person offerings gain momentum. The growth of our congregation has flattened with slightly fewer families pledging this year versus last. The six-figure programming revenue we used to enjoy from the annual auction, tours and rentals has mostly disappeared over the past three years. And like most employers, we’re spending more on wages and benefits for our ministers and staff in a tight job market during a period of rising inflation.

Over the past few years, the Board has forecasted several “deficit” budgets that turned out to be surpluses by year end. And while the Board is working with the Finance and Investment Committee to handle our 2022 needs, the outlook for 2023 and beyond is financially precarious. We want everyone to understand what is happening as we enter and navigate through the second half of 2022.
 
Steps We’re Taking to Manage Our Budget
Fortunately, the Finance & Investments Committee (Lynne Hensel, Jen Marling, Jerry Seeber, Nile Wendorf, Rich Whitney) has been carefully and conscientiously investing our cash reserves for some time. This past April, the Board approved a policy on the Use of Designated Reserves to ensure the stability of UTUUC operations by providing a source of internal funds for specific operating, capital and maintenance, and facility purposes. However, if you pay attention to the stock market, you’ve noticed now is a bad time to be pulling money out of investments.

The Board has also been working with the Nominating Committee (Alec Brownlow, Aisha Ellis, Erik Wise, Jane Wood) and asking them to stretch their processes and systems to nominate congregants to form a new Stewardship Committee of the Board. The goal of this new Stewardship Committee is to create and sustain a culture of generosity so that all congregants are well informed about UTUUC finances, comfortable talking about money, able to participate actively and joyfully in annual pledge drives and other fundraisers, and articulate in how our congregation’s mission links to where we spend our resources. However, it has proven challenging to find congregants willing to do this important work and it will be some time yet before these stewardship efforts bear fruit.

Additionally, the Board has been working with staff and the Finance & Investment committee to identify where to trim 2022 expenses immediately. These are not pleasant or easy discussions, as some of the belt-tightening options include:
  • Postponing a return to two Sunday services
  • Enacting a hiring freeze of non-essential staff
  • Cutting staff professional expenses in half (our ministers have already volunteered to do this)
  • Revisiting giving away 100% of the weekly collection plate

And with our current revenue and expenses unsustainable in 2023 and beyond, everything will be evaluated and prioritized against our mission. As we head into the 2023 budgeting process, we will need to:
  • Review all service contracts
  • Evaluate our ministerial and staff configuration
  • Consider raising program registration fees
  • Discuss potentially selling one of our congregational properties (i.e., Gale House, 1019 South Blvd.)
 
The Extraordinary Need For Your Commitment
Clearly things cannot stay the same. The workshops our Transition Team (Marsha Borders, Glenn Brewer, Vera Dowell, Fran Knechel, Ian Morrison) led last month on our congregational history demonstrated that UTUUC is constantly evolving and changing. What we’re positioning ourselves to become after this interim period is yet to be determined. In the coming weeks, the Board will be hosting a series of conversations to ask and listen to your thoughts on: What needs to continue? What can be set aside permanently? What needs to be done differently? And what might any changes mean for staffing, programming, and building use?

And if you are able, please consider increasing your annual or recurring pledge amount or making a special gift to the 2022 Annual Fund. More details on a mid-year fund drive will be coming to your inbox and mail soon. You can increase your pledge using this form which can also be found on our website under Close the Gap campaign.
 
Many Wonderful and Amazing Things Happening
While we are concerned how these financial challenges will affect our congregation, we would be remiss not to mention all the good things that have happened in the first half of this year. We returned to in-person Sunday services in early February while continuing to live stream. Over the course of this year’s religious education programming season, an average of 118 young people participated each week. We welcomed nine new members in April with a Welcoming Sunday service. The Spring Music Festival returned after a two-year hiatus. Rev. Dawn, Rev. Emily and Tina Lewis announced the debut of a new and expanded Caring Ministry last month. And over 100 people attended our first community event of 2022 with our June 13 potluck. This time feels fresh and ripe with possibility. We welcome your partnership in finding financial stability in these challenging times so that this great work can continue.
 
Your UTUUC Board of Trustees,
Amanda Kaleta-Kott, President
Matt Bruce
Aimee Conrad, Vice President
Aisha Ellis
Stephen Lee, Secretary
Ed McDevitt
Sandy Meyer
Rich Pokorny
Michael Weekes