As you may know, we are attempting to raise funds to replace the sanctuary air conditioning units. The total cost will be somewhere around $40K. No one is arguing that the air conditioning isn't necessary in this day and age when attracting new people to the church involves (in part) making sure that they are physically comfortable. It's also important that the people who are already a part of the church be physically comfortable while in worship. It helps us to focus on worshipping God rather than how badly we feel if it's too hot. Those things said, the discussion does bring us to the larger issue of priorities. Obviously we do the ministry of the Church with the resources people are willing to share; those of their Time, Talent, and Treasure. Since there are limits on all of those we are forced into prioritizing how we will use them. With respect to the money that is available, we have to answer some basic questions about who we are and what we understand the Church to be. Do we spend most of our money on things that primarily minister to us like air conditioning, sound systems, new carpets, music, Sunday School supplies and so on, or do we put more money into things like missions, community service, outreach (as in deliberatly going out into the community to bring people to faith in Christ), and, for want of a better word, marketing? One consultant I know says that every church should spend 17% of their budget or more, on "marketing" alone. The reality is that people do not automatically come to our churches anymore. Something has to draw them. They have to know that we exist and have some idea of who we are, or they simply will not visit. That's just one component of the outwardly focused side of the ledger.
I used to know a pastor, now deceased, who insisted that his church give 50% of their budget to missions! Imagine what we could do if that were ever achieved here at St. Andrew's.
So, what do you think? Obviously there is overlap; categorizing things as those for us and those for others is not so clear cut. But, by and large, we have a sense of the distinction between the two. Do we spend too much of our resources of Time, Talent, and Treasure on ourselves? Are there things that we could do better in this regard?
All Are Welcome
Annual Conference May 29-31
The United Methodist Church
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
5 comments:
It is unthinkable that SAUMC is trying to raise $40K for comfort when we have voted not to support our retired pastors and our world missions by not supporting the Shared Ministries budget for about the same amount. How about a fund raiser for Shared Ministries instead, or, at least, in addition to?
Would someone come on line and explain the statement about "We voted not to support Shared Ministries" The immediate need to fix broken equipment vs supporting an on-going long term effort can't be equated to each other. Because a curtailled budget restricts giving to world service doesn't mean that we won't necessarily makeup for it later. Using that argument would mean that we shouldn't do anything for ourselves if an emergency arrises, broken toilets, watermains, refrigirators, playground or classroom fixtures. Or other unbudgeted programs such "Nothing but Nets", "Cyclone Relief", Food for CH Pantry, UMMCOR, Red Cross, etc.
Not to seem crass about it but having air conditioning helps improve Church Giving by sustaining Church attendance thus sustaining offerings. Yes we should be giving to both, and maybe there are other ways to get the repairs costs paid for, but spending priorities always change during a year so this one is needed because of the time constraints involved. And yes if we don't raise the money in time, we can meet in Wesley Hall.
Being a retiree living of a $1200/month SS check and my own savings makes me want to know some of the individual costs of those shared ministries, comparied to my retirement income.
I agree with Melchisidek's comments. SAUMC has more important priorities than funding comfort for ourselves for three or four months of the year. We need to meet our outstanding debt obligations before worrying about being cool for an hour a week! There are other more important facility improvements than air conditioning that are needed. How about upgrading the elevator so that disabled and those with walking difficulties can access our church facilities?
PRIORITIES!!! How can we be thinking about being comfortable for one hour on a Sunday morning when thousands of persons in the world are grieving, starving and homeless due to cyclones and earthquakes? Consider giving to UMCOR. I will be happy to sit in the back of the sanctuary and let others sit up front where the air conditioning system continues to work. Signed, "One cool chick."
Everyone has some good points here. Missions and relief efforts are obviously important. However, there is always a need to budget for maintenance of the physical property, including the "climate control." If we don't do that, we might just as well move out of this building and meet in a school auditorium somewhere... if we can find one that allows us to use its air handling system, usually shut off during the weekends to conserve energy. Or, as suggested, meet downstairs; then we would need that upgraded elevator...
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