As I’ve written over the last few months, the Financial Sustainability and Stewardship Committee (FSSC) was formed as a diverse group to reflect on the church’s fiscal practices and budget process, collaborate and fact-find with Boards, Committees and staff and make advisory recommendations to Council Exec and Church Council. 

The goal of the group is to bring together talented members to brainstorm and discuss the various aspects of the church’s financial health, positive or negative. No subject is off the table and there are no sacred cows.  The committee’s membership was purposely established to be independent of our Boards, Committees, staff and lay leadership structures.  Unlike most ad-hoc committees formed recently, the FSSC does not have “official” Board or Committee representatives. Also there are no members of Church Council (i.e. Board or Committee chairs or Council Exec members) serving as voting members. If there is a subject in which a conflict of interest might exist, the member will judiciously abstain to ensure confidence in the committee’s recommendations.  The Moderator, Moderator-Elect and Coordinating Minister will be non-voting ex officio participants. 

The Financial Sustainability and Stewardship Committee members are: 

• Jeremy Archer
• Tracy Bachmann 
• Rebecca Beachy (Chair)
• Star Bradbury  
• John Engles
• Tony Miller 
• Karen Johnson
• Jerry Steinberg  
• Andrew Ragsdale
• Scott Winzeler  
• Carole Zegel  

Ex Officio: Bromleigh McCleneghan, Donn Smith-Lopez and Barb Gibbs 

The committee met for the first time on March 4th to make introductions, share how their professional or volunteer experiences might be of service to the team and tell what excites them about the work of the committee.  Regularly scheduled meetings will be held to continue the group’s dialogue and discovery.  The committee will tackle such subjects as: 

• Human Resources Processes (Recruitment/Retention, Staffing Levels, Compensation (Salary and Benefits), Employee Contracts, Evaluations, etc.) 
• Insurance Costs (Health, Liability, Property, etc.) 
• Endowment Management, Growth and Education 
• Capital Campaign Feasibility and Timing 

• Annual Enlistment Process and Pledged Giving 
• Budget Process 
• Expense Management and Revenue Opportunities (Internal and External) 
• Financial Policies and Procedures 
• Membership Recruitment and Retention 

The Financial Sustainability and Stewardship Committee will be a brain trust of thinkers instead of “do-ers”.  As other Board, Committees and staff work on projects and initiatives that overlap or intersect the committee’s scope of the work, a referral or request would be made for FSSC to review and give their input.  The intent is not to circumvent the good work and efforts of our Boards and Committees but rather to bring the FSSC into the conversations.  The committee’s outcomes and deliverables will be focused on recommendations, not directives, and the group won’t be assigned action items for follow-up.  Each recommendation will be vetted by Council Exec, as is our standard practice for all important church matters, and appropriately referred to Church Council for approval and implementation consideration. 

This endeavor is an exciting opportunity, in Bromleigh’s words, “to develop a cohesive vision and financial strategy that will enable the United Church of Gainesville to continue to grow and thrive in ministry.”   

Finally, on a personal note, as our congregation enters into the Lenten season with the latest COVID surge subsiding, I am reminded again of the resilience and dedication of this church community. As Melvin and I sat in the nearly full sanctuary last Sunday I felt an overwhelming feeling of normalcy and the sense belonging.  The world, our state and this city continues to struggle with violence, inequality and oppression.  So many injustices outside of our safe circle beg for answers and demand action. As UCG celebrates this holy season culminating in the Easter resurrection, I continue to find peace and strength in my family of faith.