In case you missed it the congregation adopted a challenge budget for 2024 for the congregational meeting on October 15. This is the first step in the process that kicks off our annual pledge campaign. Based on your pledges we will vote on a likely different final version of our 2024 budget at the January 2024 congregational meeting.

You can find a copy of the adopted challenge budget and some explanatory notes on the UCG website.

The challenge budget includes salary and benefits for a third minister which was also approved by the congregation at the meeting on October 15. It includes additional funds for building and yard maintenance, reasonable wage and salary increases for the staff and ministers, inflationary increases for operating expenses, funding for boards and committees, and continued support for our capital reserves. The search for a third minister is contingent upon the enlistment campaign fulfilling the budgetary needs for that position and the ongoing expenses of the church as summarized in the notes to the challenge budget cited above.

Please take the time to review the budget and accompanying notes and think about what our church means to you, what it means to be a member of a vibrant church community, and what your capacity is to contribute to the financial needs of sustaining and growing that community.

Our enlistment theme this year is “Grace in Action.” I believe that this is the best description of UCG and our community. Please contribute.