A Letter from Lindy Feb 2
Pilgrims,
Please join me in offering our gratitude and praise to Pilgrim's Budget Committee and Church Council for the care in which they shepherded our 2020 budget to its successful conclusion with our congregational approval this past Sunday. Such hard work and intentional conversation was had by so many dedicated Pilgrims. With joy I joined the process marveling at a new generation of Pilgrim leaders casting a vision for our future.
For any Pilgrims who could not participate in our congregational meeting, let me share a few highlights:
Through your generosity, we surpassed our stewardship goal of $260, 000. Our 2020 pledge total is $263,377.
Pilgrim ended 2019 with a $12,501 surplus, bring our total reserves to $59,852.
As noted in our moderator's presentation of the 2020 budget, changes were made to our budget organization and presentation, allowing Pilgrim boards more flexibility in how resources are allocated and needs responded to.
In addition to Pilgrim board budgets, an additional budget was created under the auspices of the Church Council which includes personnel costs and other line items that previously fell under specific boards but seemed more appropriately the responsibility of Church Council as they reflect congregation-wide efforts.
Pilgrim's financial obligations through loans, both internally and externally, are paid off.
Pilgrim's support of ministry partners through Board of Christian Service and the Church's Wider Mission (denominational support) translates to 15.7% of our pledged income.
Income from sharing our campus with All My Children Day Care is 11% of our budget. Through the generous support of a Pilgrim, we have just installed new floors in the daycare space.
Through the generous support of another Pilgrim, the sanctuary floors will be redone this Spring.
Pilgrim's Bilingual Ministry and our involvement in PRIDE Durham now have a budget home under the Board of Christian Service.
The categorization and flexibility within board budgets was affirmed, but many questions arose from the congregation regarding Pilgrim support of our ministry partners through our Board of Christian Service. As we are a community that feels passionately about how our faith translates into concrete action, both the specific ministries and our financial commitment to them is integral to who we are.
Knowing this, the Board of Christian Service has developed an intentional process to have both intentional conversation with our ministry partners and with those Pilgrims actively involved in these specific ministries. These conversations will help the Board learn of our partners goals and ways in which we might support them beyond our financial contribution. They will also learn if our support is more efficacious at specific times of the year. Working with Pilgrim's treasurer, they will discern how to allocate their budgeted resources monthly.
Pilgrim's financial support of our ministry partners will follow their historic patterns and the Board of Christian Service will bring any substantive changes to Council for discussion and approval.
The hope and goal of this newly organized budget, for all Pilgrim Boards, is to give them flexibility to respond to anticipated and unanticipated needs throughout the year, while also maintaining transparency and accountability. If you have any questions regarding the congregational meeting or the budget, please come and speak with our moderator, Ami Nagle and/or our treasurer, Kimmery Migel.
I am excited about how God will use Pilgrim this year. I hope you are as well.
Pastor Lindy