Celebrating 100 and looking ahead!

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A L e t t e r f r o m t h e R e c t o r a n d v e s t ry

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S t e wa r d s h i p 2 0 1 6

Dear Friends,

In addition to a welcoming inclusive community of worship, meaningful preaching, active social justice, and on-going pastoral care, you asked specifically for expanded ministries to families, children and youth; greater opportunities for spiritual growth of all ages; broader, shared leadership of our ministries; and greater transparency overall. In response, we committed three years of funds from undesignated gifts to the parish (what we call Vestry Reserves) to expand our then quarter-time Church School position to a half-time role known now as our Spiritual Formation Director. This allowed us to greatly expand our ministry beyond Church School to all ages with special events for families, annual Vacation Bible School, regular year-round adult spiritual formation, and greater lay leadership, and with the staff support it takes to engage and support all those who commit to serving in these ministries. During that time we focused on giving children and youth a chance to attend Camp Marshall, moving in just a few years from 4-5 kids attending to more than 30 each of the last two years! A new ministry, called QUEST, is building relationships and growing the faith of our Middle School youth (6th through 9th grades). These results led to a greater need for sustained support, especially for those in QUEST who are now in High School. Again, the Vestry responded. Last year they designated funds from their reserves to start a quarter-time Youth Director position to provide the necessary oversight and care for our youth and their parents.

100 y ea rs at s ixth and Gerald

Celebrating 100 and looking ahead!

During your search for a new Rector, about six years ago now, over 200 members of the parish (an amazing number of participants!) completed an extensive survey. The results not only helped you define what you wanted in a new rector but also your dream for this parish. Since my arrival in 2011, the Vestry and I have been listening and responding to your hopes and dreams expressed in that survey.

Last Spring we took another look at what we value and desire at Holy Spirit Parish in what we called “The View from 100.” That discussion revealed that you continue to hold the same strong values as in the survey of six years ago and you appreciate and affirm the steps we have taken to date. All of these efforts are beginning to produce good fruit! Just look around and you will see those who are coming to Holy Spirit because they are finding what they seek. Now it is the time to address how we sustain this effort, our response to your request for transparency. Vestry Reserves enable us to initiate, and for a time support our efforts, but our reserves cannot sustain this work. That requires on-going regular financial stewardship. With transparency comes responsibility. There is a gap between our financial pledging and our expenses, one that we consciously covered as planned through our reserves and which has been expressed annually in the parish budget. We know from you that we are on the right track. We also believe, after considering our current pledging and projected need, that we can transform our initial investment into a sustained reality if we act on it together—our next step. We are asking everyone to take this next step—our next step—in one of the following ways: Increase your current pledge by 6% each year over the next 5 years, or if you have already begun the journey toward a tithe, continue to make your next step toward that goal. For many, this might be the moment to shake up our giving to make sure it reflects what we truly value at Holy Spirit. And if you have not made a pledge before, we encourage you to take the next step this fall to begin a pledge journey that supports our life at Holy Spirit. We have listened, we have acted in response, and we know what is required to sustain this valuable work. The Vestry and I have all committed to do this. We are asking each of you to prayerfully consider doing so as well. We can do this—our next step—and we trust God’s grace and blessing in helping us do so. Faithfully with you on the journey, The Rev. Terri Ann Grotzinger and the Vestry of Holy Spirit Episcopal Church

Holy Spirit Episcopal church 130 South 6th East / Missoula, MT 59801 / (406) 542-2167

www.holyspiritmissoula.org

Taking our next steps together! …and making them meaningful.

n Shortfall (The Gap)

$900,000

The gap is the amount that our expenses exceed our income. That amount is currently about $67,000/year. It is being funded with money from our Vestry Reserves while pledges grow to meet expenses. This is not sustainable in the long term.

$800,000

$700,000

n Income

RESERVES

The income is the total amount of earnings from all sources (plate offering 3%, pledge 85%, Holiday Market 2%, other 5%) as well as funds that come from the Memorial Board 5%. These sources total about $402,000 currently, but don’t meet our overall expenses. Currently we tap our reserves to fill the gap.

$600,000

SES EXPEN $500,000

S H ORT F ALL $400,000

2% ANNUAL

EDGING

INCREASE IN PL

• • • • • Expenses The expenses are all the costs involved in carrying out Holy Spirit’s mission. These include Employee Compensation 61%, General Operations 12%, Buildings and Grounds 11%, and the Diocesan Assessment of 16% (Note: assessment is 19% of the income but not all items are assessable).

$300,000

I N CO M E $200,000

n Reserves

$100,000

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

The reserves are the savings that have been built up over the years from previous operating surpluses and generous unrestricted donations over many years (as with the Mosiers’ recent gift of their estate). Our reserves currently equal about $523,000—you can see that our expenses use up our reserves by 2021 if giving remains at current levels.

2022

$900,000

n Opportunity

$800,000

$700,000

RESERVES $600,000

OPPORTU N ITY

SES EXPEN $500,000

S H ORT F ALL

GING

PLED

C

AL IN

NNU

6% A

$400,000

E IN REAS

Breaking it down into small steps: A 6% increase of the average weekly pledge of $30 a week is $1.80 more each week—one of these treats on a weekly basis.

$300,000

We can do this!

I N CO M E $200,000

$100,000

2015

2016

2017

With steady, incremental growth in our pledging over a relatively short timeframe, we will fund the shortfall and then begin to either replenish our reserves or grow our programs. This is the fun part to visualize: Do we want to add an assistant priest? Or do more or different outreach? Or something else entirely to be discerned together? The possibilities that can be created out of abundance are endless and exciting.

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

A single scoop of ice cream

3/4 of a cup of coffee

1/2 of a pint of microbrew

Ingathering Sunday is November 15. Please watch for next week’s mailing, or to make your pledge today, please call the church office at (406) 542-2167.

Holy Spirit | Episcopal Church 130 South 6th East / Missoula, MT 59801 / (406) 542-2167 /

www.holyspiritmissoula.org