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I want to start by saying thank you. This will be my last leadership update as your acting head of staff as we anticipate Anthony’s arrival early next month. You all have received me with generosity and encouragement for which I am so grateful. I have certainly learned a few things along the way these last three months, but my favorite part of serving in this capacity has been meeting more of you than I might have otherwise. If you miss me, just come see me in the Children’s Wing.
Please bear with me as this Leadership Update is full of important information.
Stewardship
As I have mentioned before, we are modifying our stewardship process as we embrace new beginnings. It is important to remember that God calls us to give of our tithes (money), talents and time out of gratitude and worship. He invites us to participate with him in the work of the Kingdom on earth as we await his return. As we move into new stewardship rhythms, conversations will hopefully be more frequent, clear, and centered on our discipleship together.
To that end, let me offer an update that has the potential to be a bit sobering but helpful to us as we link arms to make ministry and mission happen in Boulder County.
- We have been in the practice of “pledging” our financial commitments for the ministry year (a ministry year equals July–June) in advance so that we can better create our budget for careful spending.
- We also anticipate receiving one-time annual gifts and often see those gifts coming at the end of the country’s fiscal year in December.
- At this time we are approximately $640,000 behind our budget goals and needs for Ministry Year 2023–24 which ends June 2024.
If our financial position does not change significantly, we will have to make some critical budget adjustments in the New Year. This will impact the running of our ministries and our expectations of our staff.
Here’s the call to action: Before anything please pray. God is in the business of deepening our faith when we depend on him for all that we need. While you pray, consider if there is more you can do to see the life of the church grow. If you have already made a pledge, can you increase your pledge? If you have not yet pledged or given, can you join with us financially? Use our pledge form to adjust or make a pledge.
Thank you for your trust in our leadership when you offer your money to the Lord through Grace Commons. We don’t take that lightly and do our very best to be faithful stewards of your gifts for our common mission. Thank you so much for your attentiveness and consideration. We are forever grateful to be partnering with you in ministry and mission.
Boulder Vision Project (BVP)
At this time we are working on the CHFA (Colorado Housing and Finance Authority) grant reapplication, for which we are hopeful to receive. The BVP team has been busy submitting for additional grants as well as seeking out a variety of loan options for the development of the 1603 Walnut Project. They are diligently investigating funding options that steward our resources well into the future. The team is also finalizing the building permit for 1603 Walnut in advance of our completed funding.
Deacons’ Closet
There has been some confusion surrounding the changes with the Deacons’ Closet. I’d like to take a moment to offer some clarity:
- The Deacons’ Closet is currently distributing clothing at Trinity Lutheran on Pine Street. Our Deacons’ Closet volunteers continue to sort clothing and receive donations at 1603 Walnut, the Annex.
- Over the last five years, generally speaking, we have noticed dramatic changes in some of the guests we serve through Mercy Ministries and in Boulder. The rise in violence, drug use, mental health illness and crime has been significant. Our church leaders feel we are no longer equipped to handle these kinds of issues on our own. In fact, the reason our church office has had to become more secure is because of unnerving interactions between the unhoused and our front desk volunteers. In a similar way our preschool is also at risk if we are not thoughtful in our response.
- This does not mean we are ending all Mercy Ministry, but we need to reevaluate the lasting impact of our helping hand. To that end, we are partnering with the city to evaluate more comprehensive care for these individuals that include our support and partnership. Session has established a task force that is evaluating our Mercy Ministries’ effectiveness and sustainability. They will report back to Session in three months.
- These changes come not from a heart distant from compassion or empathy for a suffering community—quite the opposite. We want to steward well what we have to give for the best possible outcome for these individuals for the long term, while we continue to be a good partner and neighbor in our city.
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