A “Must Win” Year for Stewardship
Stewardship message – March 9, 2008
If you’re a sports fan like I am, you’ve no doubt heard the expression that a team faces a “must win” game. That’s usually when a team has to win a game in order to continue a successful season. Well, we’re in that position today here at Broadway, only it relates to the future of this congregation, not winning a game. That’s why we’re referring to the coming year here at Broadway as a “Must Year.” Please don’t misunderstand. The future of our church here at Broadway is very bright. We have a thriving congregation in so many ways. We are truly blessed. But, as you probably know, we are in the midst of a transition. Not simply a transition in ministers, but a transition in what this congregation can become in the years ahead.
That’s why we’re coming to you today as we enter our annual stewardship campaign. Except this year, it’s not really a campaign at all. We’re taking a different approach. Instead of conducting a campaign, receiving your pledges and then determining how best to allocate those resources to address our mission, we’re going to be very frank about our budgetary needs up front and ask you for a commitment to meet those needs. Let me be specific:
- The BCC staff drives and accounts for a very significant portion of the program ministry and mission of our community of faith.Staff salaries are almost 60% of our budget. The last four years the Personnel Committee has recommended 4% raises for staff across the board. However, the final budgets could not meet those requests. To compensate our dedicated staff to the level of these past recommendations, we will request a 10% increase in staff compensation this year.
- We are in a time of transition of ministers. The interim pastor search has begun and a search for a new senior minister will begin probably in the new fiscal year. There will be additional expenses to recruit and retain an interim minister. The cost of recruiting and calling a new senior minister also will add to the budget in ways we cannot avoid. Transition and pulpit search expenses are estimated at nearly $38,000.
- In the next ten months, we plan to convert our construction loan to a permanent loan mortgage on our wonderful Christian Life Center, the music and administrative wings and upgrades elsewhere in the facility. While the sale of our Ash Street property significantly reduced our debt, we will have a monthly payment of about $5,000 beginning in January 2009.
- Our departments are requesting approximately a 10% increase to carry out their missions.
- All told, we will need to grow our budget in the coming year by approximately 23% in order to fulfill these needs.
This is an ambitious goal to be sure. But it is one we need to meet in order to continue to move this congregation forward and make progress toward the mission God has given to us. Fortunately, this congregation has shown time after time that it is willing to meet the challenges and opportunities we face.
It’s going to be sad day for all of us when Rick and Kim leave. In fact, I’m already a little depressed about it. But thanks to their talent and leadership skills, they are leaving us with a tremendous foundation on which we can build. In addition, our lay leadership over the years has been nothing short of outstanding and I am constantly in awe of the time, talent and resources provided by all of you as we do the work of this church.
But perhaps we owe our greatest thanks to the charter members who took that leap of faith and a long walk some 50 years ago to establish Broadway. Just think of the courage and determination it took for our charter members to make that move from downtown to a location that was out in the country back then. How could they have known then that the church they would establish would become the third largest Disciples church in Missouri and the 28th largest in the United States? How could they have known then that in 2008 we would have such outstanding facilities in which to worship? How could they have known then the array of ministries we would have today to meet the needs of our members and others in this community and throughout the world? I suspect they could not have known, but they took those steps anyway and the rest of us have been blessed by that decision.
Today it is our turn to take a step that will pave the way for what I know will be a bright future for Broadway Christian Church. We are up to the task. The Broadway Spirit that was evident 50 years ago is still alive and well.
In this “Must Year” of stewardship I am asking you to pray, discuss with your family, and then make your pledge for the work of this congregation in the year ahead. I know my family and I have felt blessed to be a part of this wonderful congregation for the past 15 years and I imagine you feel the same way. To use another sports analogy it is time for us to step up to the plate, not just for the coming year and for those of us who happen to be here now, but for the individuals and families who will make Broadway their church home in the years to come and for those who may never become members here, but whose lives we may touch through our ministries. That’s what our charter members did for this community of faith. That’s what we must do now in this “Must Year.” May God continue to bless each of you and may God continue to bless Broadway Christian Church.
