We started our enlistment campaign back in October with a goal of raising $877,978 from member pledges. This would be a 5.3% increase over the total pledge budget for 2023. As of December 12th, we had received 257 pledges totaling $773,321. You can see that we need another $104,000+ to meet our budgetary goal.

Even though you are reading this in 2024, it is still not too late to make your pledge. You can email or call Catherine Cake at the church to make your pledge, or you can go online to the UCG website Pledge Form. 

The Board of Business has voted to have a supplemental campaign. This means we are asking even those who have already made a pledge for 2024 to look again and see if they can increase the pledge that they have already made. You can add a supplemental pledge by contacting Catherine Cake at the church office. You can email her at catherinec@ucgainesville.org.

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

The challenge budget included salary and benefits for a third minister, which was also approved by the congregation at the meeting on October 15th. 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.

Without a third minister, the church will still need administrative help for Bromleigh and Talia if we are to continue our many important ministries. The Board of Business is working hard to make sure that we have the funds to support these ministries that are the Grace in Action of the United Church of Gainesville.