By Jim Friedlander

SEPTEMBER UPDATE

We have had a busy month, but we can report that we are successfully finding a way through our new financial reality. Although we have had to make some adjustments to our spending, we are now in a good position to carry out our mission, provide high quality programming and be a place of faith and mission.

Listed below are some of the steps we have taken:

Created a Financial Review Team that will exist to ensure that our financial reporting is in compliance with our banking needs and is clear and understandable. This team will also review the recommended budgets and give feed back to the Council on any concerns they have about spending levels.

Members of this team are Sam Black, Wayne Lindberg, Ann Schulte and Paul Strand,

Re-established a 2010 budget that is balanced for the last half of the year, lays out expected income and expenses and provides a stable environment for growth and congregational health.

Made the expense cuts that we believe are least likely to affect our mission, including some staff adjustments.

Established a Pre-School budget that should require no additional contribution from the congregation, but continues to provide a high-quality preschool experience for the children who come to us.

As we move into the fall we are confident that we have the programming and the staff we need to be a vibrant community of faith – and we do not believe we will need to make significant changes in the foreseeable future. We also believe we have the financial resources necessary to support all of this, but we will be watching our finances closely and will communicate any issues if they arise. As the year progresses our Re-Visioning Team will be considering how to best carry on and advance our mission. Once they are done, we will be communicating their recommendations to the congregation.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or any member of the Church Council.

Going in Peace, Serving the Lord!

Jim Friedlander