Feb 3rd we had our Annual Church Meeting.

here is the info from the handout of the meeting: 

Statistics:

1 transfer in, 3 transfers out, for a total 70 souls (43 members in Good Standing, 5 of which are under 16 years old)

Average Sunday Attendance         21

Last year              27

Five years ago    33

Ten years ago     26

45 Sunday Eucharists, 7 Sunday Daily Offices, 8 people in Christian Education

 
Money

2007 budget       $62,458 income,

$45,486 expenses

$16,972 surplus

In July we moved $10,000 into a money market for a balance of $34,549; which is addition to $21,559 in Diocesan trust.  We ended with $6,972 in the bank.

2008 budget       $65,400 income,

$56,120 expenses

$9,280 surplus

This church still doesn't know what is like to have a part-time priest financially.  If you had had to pay for someone just like me the church would have ended $1,028 in debt.  [Mostly because we lacked $4,544 in pledges otherwise we would have been $3,516 surplus.]  The point is (beyond pay your pledge) we can do this; we can have a part-time Vicar and still a full active Episcopal presence in the Community.

 
Last year Mediator-Redeemer paid my medical insurance as part of my package from them.  They had a deficit budget this year and adopted another deficit budget this year.  A Family package for a priest cost $18,000; a Single Priest package cost $8,000. 

What I purpose is that this church starts budgeting for that cost.  Also I think that the leadership should revisit how it constructs the part-time vicar package to include some sort of medical insurance element.

 
The Church purchased a new computer unit and configured the existing modem to facilitate wireless.  The wireless code is the church phone number (6018925339)

Local Action

We have decided to do something in the community, some form of outreach that we can be know for and put our prayers, time and money behind. 

 
We have voted to give time, talent or treasure to the Mississippi Gulf Coast or the Diocese of Mississippi.  We can either put together a group to go and work on the Coast Camp Care for a week, we can donate specific talents to Diocesan projects or Allin house or give 1% above our yearly pledge [$654 or $54.50 a month which is about $2.18 per member per month; $3 per member, per month would be $900]