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DAVID E. BOHNERT
UMCONNECTION CORRESPONDENT

The rising costs of heating will have a dramatic effect on church budgets this winter, several pastors report.

Estimates of the increase in the cost of heating oil in the conference range from 20 to 50 percent, depending on the specific location in the state.

Churches face a strain on their finances, not only from the direct costs of heating fuel, but also a possible increase in apportionments because the operating costs of the churches include the cost of energy.

In addition, many parishioners may find it increasingly difficult to support the churches financially because they themselves will experience dramatic increases in the cost of fuel to heat their homes.

The Rev. Jarrett Wicklein, pastor of Mount Vernon Place UMC in Baltimore, said that his congregation recently switched from heating oil to natural gas, only to experience an additional cost over budget last year of $13,000. The church expects an additional cost of $12,000 for the current heating season, a total increase of $25,000 over the two seasons.

So far, Wicklein said, the church has survived the economic impact by drawing funds from savings. However, he said, this will be possible for only the next three years.

Asked whether the congregation has found ways to economize, Wicklein said that it is very difficult to economize in heating costs because of the nature of the church building. Located in downtown Baltimore, the church has 90-foot ceilings and a 3,800-pipe organ which requires a temperature of at least 55 degrees. The church seats 900 but sees an average of only 105 people attending worship.

In a discussion with Bishop John R. Schol recently, Wicklein requested that the conference take utility costs out of the apportionment formula.

The bishop has passed on the idea to Martha Knight, director of finance and administration for the conference.

In the Cumberland-Hagerstown district, Mount Savage UMC experienced financial distress in the aftermath of a flood in September 2004. District churches provided $30,000 in financial aid to people of Mount Savage who had experienced losses in the flood, according to the Rev. Richard C. Broome Jr. Additionally, he said, the church had to replace a 40- or 50-year old furnace. Expected energy costs for the new heating season are unknown, he said.

The Rev. John H. Williams, pastor of Solomons UMC and former district superintendent in the Cumberland-Hagerstown district, said that his congregation last year occupied a building almost double the size of the previous building. Heating with natural gas rather than oil, as in the former

building, the congregation experienced an expense almost double that of the previous year.

The church plans to save energy this year, Williams said, by coordinating meetings through the church secretary for the best use of heated areas, setting the programmable thermostats lower, and encouraging parishioners to dress warmly. The church hopes to achieve savings without disrupting the church ministries, he said.

Around Glyndon UMC, parishioners find signs near thermostats saying, 'Wear a jacket for Jesus,' and 'Be Strangely Warmed By Holy Heat.' The results of a contest, the signs remind parishioners to turn down the thermostats when they leave, according to the Rev. Norman J. Obenshain.

'We do this in the belief that this is one way to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources, to practice good stewardship of our budget dollars, and to practice good stewardship of our God-given natural resources by using less and polluting less,' Obenshain said.