As we gather together in small groups to discuss stewardship, the Stewardship Committee wants to remind us all of the “4C’s for 3C”:
Caring, Community, Commitment & Contribution for Central Congregational Church
2011-2012 Stewardship Campaign Accomplishments & Aspirations
Church Leadership
Accomplishments:
- Central has consistently hosted services of worship praising God, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and offering spiritual support and challenge to members of the congregation and the wider community. These regular services have been augmented by seasonal services during Lent and Advent as well as numerous services for weddings and funerals and celebrating the sacraments of baptism and communion. Our doors have been open day in and day out welcoming individuals and groups in need of comfort, confession and inspiration.
- Central has become a Global Mission Church within the United Church of Christ, thus widening our understanding and appreciation of the wider ministries of our denomination throughout the world, and we have formally been designated by the UCC as an Open and Affirming Congregation, thus recognizing and articulating our historic stance of welcoming all persons to be full participants in the life and leadership of the congregation.
- We have raised just over $2 million towards needed renovations and restoration to our historic building, putting us slightly better than 2/3 of the way toward completion of our $3 million STEP FORWARD campaign.
- We held a successful Mission Day in the Fall, where almost 100 young and old members and friends participated in hands on projects with our partner agencies fostering greater awareness of our local mission efforts.
Aspirations:
- Building on the membership growth of almost 200 new individuals within the past 5 years, foster an increased understanding and commitment to evangelism on the part of each current member of the church. This increased commitment to evangelism will not only deepen each member’s own personal faith orientation, but will translate into renewed congregational growth and vitality.
- Successfully complete the ambitious 3-year $3 million STEP FORWARD campaign, and continue to refine the long-range strategic planning that initiated this effort.
- Deepen each member’s personal sense of spirituality, thus enabling members to live out the questions, “How is God acting in my life? How am I responding?”
- Strengthen our commitment to ministry for youth and young adults in a rapidly changing world in which being Christian is truly a minority perspective.
Mission & Action
Accomplishments:
- Central Church members served at Amos House every Tuesday, serving over 250 meals a week. The 40 or so volunteers who participate in the Amos House rotations give generously of their time and make our weekly volunteering possible and help Amos House serve a growing hungry population.
- Through the generosity of our members and their continued giving, Central is able to distribute 15% of the total church budget out to the community as donations to our various benevolences.
- In addition to our members’ financial contributions, church members give huge amounts of in-kind donations, allowing us to provide Thanksgiving baskets to Camp Street Ministries clients, toiletries to Amos House guests, diapers for the mother’s day diaper drive, and clothing for the Mount Hope Learning Center families, just to name a few.
Aspirations:
- Engage more members of the church in our mission projects to expand the reach of the Church and to make mission work a habit for our members.
- Expand our mission projects to global mission, in accordance with the overall goal of the church to be a global mission church.
- Promote the work and goals of the mission committee so that our financial contributions and our in-kind contributions to our benevolences can continue to grow in step with the growing need in the community.
Music
Accomplishments:
- Successful Christmas CD production by the adult choir, which sold over 250 copies.
- Greater presence in the community, through outreach and hosting concerts open to the public.
- Held a successful Christmas Tree Trimming event, attended by large number of the congregation.
Aspirations:
- More music in worship using instruments, ensembles, orchestra.
- Building on the Medieval Feast event by engaging more of the local community.
- Musical opportunities for children, youth, and adults together.
Plant & Properties
Accomplishments:
- Renovation and upgrade of the parsonage.
- Cleaning, overhaul and rehabilitation of the Aeolian-Skinner organ.
- Rehabilitation, protection and beautification of the Angell Street façade.
- Repair and rehabilitate dome roof to prevent leaks, including replacement and refurbishment of flashing, gutters and drainpipes.
Aspirations:
- There is seemingly a never-ending list of projects to keep our magnificent building in good, safe condition. Some of the projects near the top of the list are:
- Complete upgrading of electrical wiring
- Recondition of entry doors
- Repointing and repair chimney and exterior masonry repairs to prevent leaks
- Makepeace Room renovation (for community mission)
- Sanctuary carpeting
- Chapel Hall renovation
Religious Education
Accomplishments:
- There was some concern within the committee that parents of Sunday School children are not enough aware of what their children are learning in Sunday School. Furthermore, we felt that many parents may have questions about how to further develop their children’s faith at home, outside of Sunday School. In the church’s December newsletter, Cathy Clasper-Torch included a special write-up about the Seasons of the Spirit curriculum. The explanation included the curriculum’s website should parents want additional information. Kat Townes focused one of her children’s sermons about the contents of the weekly Peace Papers.
- Created and published a “Parents Page” in Central’s website. It is intended to be a resource for parents, and is something we hope to expand in future years. Right now, the Parents Page (which is a new tab on the home page) contains the explanation about the Sunday School curriculum, website links with helpful information about developing faith within the family, and a bibliography with a host of titles of interest to parents.
- Made a concerted effort to recruit families for our annual Christmas caroling to shut-ins this year with the distribution of “save the date” notes in Sunday School classes, church announcements, and coffee hour sign-ups (on three separate Sundays). Our efforts really paid off. Despite inclement weather the day of the caroling, overall attendance was much improved over last year and we had three separate groups go caroling. RE members made special goody bags for all carolers with water and a few treats.
- Other special accomplishments in 2010: the creation of Kathryn Townes’ Adult Confirmation classes and Claudia’s many special adult education classes, including her very successful stories about the history of Islam; the children’s Christmas pageant – more than 100 children participated and all of the children memorized their lines.
Aspirations:
- In addition to our annual fellowship activity (usually a bowling trip, mini-golf, or other outing for members), we are planning a special lecture this Spring open to all church members. The lecture will have a similar format to the ‘lunch and learn’ sessions that the RE committee several years ago, but which have not continued in the last couple of years. The topic is yet to be decided, but one thought is to select a guest and topic related to one of the books or website recommendations on the Parents Page.
- We are working with the library committee, Cathy Clasper-Torch and members of our own committee on the purchase of some of the titles listed on our Parents Page. These would be available to check out from the library downstairs, and we would display the books to advertise their availability at one or more coffee hours once we have the books purchased.
- We are hoping to clean up and expand the corner of Congregational Hall for books and simple toys for families/children to utilize during coffee hour, and even during worship if parents have had to leave the sanctuary with their young children. We have many children’s books on the second floor that are not regularly used, including many with specifically religious topics and themes. With this effort, we are also hoping to “channel” some of the children’s excessive energy during coffee hours (as a couple of church members have commented on).
Q&As
Question: What is the difference between the Prudential Committee, the Stewardship Committee, and the Finance Committee? Don’t they all do the same thing?
Answer: Each of these entities is related and works in concert with one another, but each plays a specific role. The Prudential Committee has full responsibility of determining the overall financial policies of the Church and has full charge, management and control of the property and affairs of the Church. Prudential can be considered the over-arching, management committee of the church.
Although referred to as committees, Stewardship and Finance are actually two of the three standing subcommittees of the Prudential Committee. The Stewardship Committee plans and coordinates the annual pledge campaign, helping to encourage as many members of the church as possible to make a pledge. The Stewardship Committee, for instance, is responsible for planning and organizing these small group sessions, to help make members of the church aware of the importance of pledging in order to achieve all that we aspire Central Church to be.
The Finance Committee prepares the annual budget. (The third standing subcommittee of the Prudential Committee, Plant and Properties, oversees the property and buildings owned by the Church).
Question: What is the difference between the Capital Campaign and the annual Stewardship Committee led pledge campaign? If I have pledged to give money, why do I also need to give to the Capital Campaign? (Or, since I’ve already given to the Capital Campaign, why do I also need to give to the annual stewardship campaign?)
Answer: The Capital Campaign and the annual stewardship pledge campaign are related in that they are both critical efforts towards raising critically needed funds to sustain and grow Central Church. The money raised from both efforts allow Central Church to fulfill its mission of being a community of God’s people working for the increase in the love of God and neighbor through worship, caring, sharing, and outreach. But there are critical differences between the two efforts:
The annual stewardship pledge provides just over half of the total operating revenue of the church each year. Of the ~$835,000 budgeted revenue this year, ~$434,000 of revenue is budgeted from the annual stewardship pledge campaign. The dollars received from the annual pledge campaign fund every facet of the costs to run Central Church: salaries and benefits of the church leadership and staff, benevolences through mission and action that support more than 20 organizations locally and worldwide, the music program, the religious education program, all of the operating costs to maintain the building, insurance, utilities, etc, etc. This is why it is so critical to have every member of Central Church make an annual pledge: 1) every dollar helps Central be better able to achieve its mission, 2) the more members that pledge a commitment, the better we are able to know what our revenue will be and where we can allocate resources.
The Step Forward Capital Campaign is a separate fundraising effort, and it is equally important. The $3 million, three year campaign (of which more than $2 million has been achieved) is raising critical dollars to, literally, keep the roof over our head, make critical repairs to our beautiful but extremely expensive building, refurbish and overhaul the Aeolian-Skinner organ (at a cost of nearly $1 million), etc. These are all critical projects for which funds are being raised outside of the normal operating budget of the church.
We hope that every member of Central Church will be an active contributor to the Step Forward Capital Campaign, and make an annual stewardship pledge.