Budget builds on connectional system
Staying a faithful course in the face of economic challenges and building on the church’s calling, mission and connectional nature were the foundations of the 2010 budget that the Baltimore-Washington Conference Council on Finance and Administration brought before the annual conference session June 5.
Conference members approved the proposed conference budget of $17,733,032, which represents an increase of 3 percent over 2009.
In addition, in a conversation of the budget on the floor, members referred to CFA proposals to increase funding for campus ministries from $355,000 to $400,000; add $75,000 to $80,000 to fund a director of young adult ministries; add a line item to fund Asian-American ministries; and provide $1,000 for a partnership with Haiti.
The conference’s Young Adult Council notified CFA that they do not need a director at this time and intend to pursue their proven strategy of using regional ministry teams.
The other proposals were referred to the appropriate conference Grow teams – campus ministries to Grow Disciples, Asian-American ministries to Grow Congregations, and the Haitian partnership to Grow Missions.
The Grow teams are expected to assess the implications of these requests and be in consultation with CFA.
As part of the stewardship report, members adopted a benevolence factor of 19.5 percent.
This benevolence factor, which was dramatically reduced three years ahead of schedule with reductions last January, is intended to assist local churches as they struggle with an ongoing troubled financial environment.
The savings produced by this reduction, which necessitated budget cuts of $1.9 million last year, are being passed on to local churches for ministry, said Charlie Moore, president of CFA.
However, Moore cautioned, being able to meet budgeted expenses in 2010 means that the conference must collect 90.25 percent of the money it asks for.
Historically, this has not always been the case. In 2008, the collection rate dropped to 87 percent and in 2007 it was 87.69 percent. After the first four months of this year, the collection rate stands in the 88 percent range, Moore said.
When addressing the conference about the proposals for additional spending, he reminded members that if all conference churches paid 100 percent of their apportionments, there would be $1.5 million more dollars in the budget to spend on mission and ministry.
But, Moore said, conference leaders are willing to be optimistic, believing “local churches will be responding favorably to the significantly reduced level of apportioned dollars that has been set with the adjusted 2009 and proposed 2010 budgets.
“Local church remittance of the full, reduced apportionment asking is critical to the ongoing health of our conference and its programs,” he said.
Some people on the floor of annual conference expressed frustration over the process by which members can provide input to the budget. Moore promised that CFA would take a close look at the current procedures and make changes as appropriate.
In other action, conference members heard from the Rev. Debbie Scott, president of the conference board of trustees, who reported that progress on the building of a new $6.9 million Conference Center in Maple Lawn in Howard County is progressing well.
Turner Construction was hired to be the builder and Design Collective is the architect. If all goes according
to plan, the building phase will begin in September and the new center will open May 1, 2010, “much faster than any of us dreamed possible,” said Scott.
Scott also reported that the much anticipated dining hall at West River Camp will be completed by the start of this year’s camping season.
During the stewardship report, members also heard that:
• As of Jan. 1, 2010, a church’s share of the medical billing for a pastor’s coverage will be identical regardless of the tier level, with single coverage costing the same as single and spouse or family coverage.
• Effective Jan. 1, 2010, the deductible for retiree benefits will increase from $250 to $500; however, HealthFlex insurance will supplement Medicare by providing 80 percent of the amount remaining after the Medicare approved payment is awarded, said Frank Gould, chair of the Board of Pensions and Health Benefits.
• The conference Stewardship Center and Foundation reported that, in a year where the overall stock market fell approximately 37 percent, those churches that invested in the Foundation-managed account only saw losses of 19 percent.
• Joel Brown was introduced as the interim director of the Stewardship Center and Foundation.
• William Isberg, the conference chief operating officer, was elected to be the conference treasurer.
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