As we begin preparation for the 2012 annual budget, I’m reminded of praying with a friend who sang, “I believe that God will provide more than enough” to meet our needs. I agreed.
     In these tough economic times, it is often difficult to “trust” that God will meet our needs. But these also can be exciting times when our relationships deepen and faith grows as we rely more fully on God’s promises?
     We work to “budget” the proper amounts to order our worship, maintain our buildings, provide sustenance for clergy and staff, and expand outreach programs. We “crunch” numbers, look at projections and use our best abilities in prayerfully administering God’s gifts. All the while, it is GOD, through you, who abundantly and consistently provides “More than Enough”!
     This year, not unlike others, we have had some unexpected expenses. Air conditioning units gave out, deferred maintenance on our wooden buildings arose and some unforeseen payroll liabilities required our attention.
     All these have put a strain on our 2011 budget. We are on our way to making this up toward the end of the year, when our giving typically increases from the trough of the summer months. If you are lagging in fulfilling your pledge or can make an extra gift, both would be most appreciated.
     Please pray for us as we pray for you in discerning where and how God is calling us all to participate in our corporate worship, our individual ministries, and our financial commitments at Christ Church as we look to the future.
     As we consider a budget for 2012 that is both faithful and prudent, our target is $815,726, 9% above the 2011 budget. In dollar terms, this would include some “structural” increases in areas such as insurance and utilities. We would offer modest merit increases to high-performing employees, because retaining our valued staff is a priority and we would encourage the Vestry in this direction. We would also recommend a realistic number in the operating budget for capital maintenance and repairs (this year it will be about $50,000) so that we do not have to “borrow” from capital reserves to pay for repairs that really must be done. We are also suggesting that we make a parish-wide commitment to Christ School’s expansion program of $5,000 in 2012 and $5,000 in 2013. The categories and percentages of our expenditures for next year with such a budget breaks down as follows:
                                           $259,993 Clergy salary and benefits 31.87%
                                           $270,283 Other staff salaries and benefits 33.13%
                                           $103,250 Operations and Administration 12.66%
                                            $65,000 Repairs and Maintenance 8.25 %
                                            $65,000 Diocese of Louisiana 8.25 %
                                            $41,684 Parish Ministries and Programs 4.56 %
                                            $10,000 Audit Expense 1.23%
                                              $5,000 Christ School Expansion 0.6%
     On the income side, we depend upon your gifts and pledges to meet our expenses. We have no endowment income and very modest profit on other investments. Our largest pledge is $25,000 (thank you!) and our average pledge is a little over $2,600. Of our 514 families, 365 pledge or give in a regular and consistent way. We plan on that basis and expect to adopt a prudent operating budget. Outreach costs are largely non-operating expenditures, raised annually by appeals throughout the year and add up to another $75 — $85,000. We are streamlining that process this year with the “Hands That Touch Hearts” project which will fund Caritas, CEEP, and part of our YM mission trips expenses. And although external audits are expensive, the Treasurers and Vestry believe they are the best way to insure the adequacy of our accounting and protect our officers, directors, and all of you who give.
     We are thankful that our Christ Church community is faithful and active in providing for the ministry into which we have all been called. God’s well never runs dry, He never gets tired and will always provide “more than enough” for His people. We are mindful of God’s promise in 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

     The Christ Church Treasurers and Finance Committee: Skip Scoggin (Chair), John Sandidge, Paul Viniing, Dunbar Healy, Karen Courtney, James Valliant, Rob Hewitt, Mimi Dossett, Kirk Michel, Fr. Tom Blackmon, Michelle Gallagher (Sr. Warden), Bobby Coxe (Co-Treasurer) and Darci Senner (Co-Treasurer).