Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Budget

Conference Finance Update — June 2011

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The 2011-12 fiscal year is one-third complete. Revenue has fallen $20,000 behind budget, mostly due to congregational contributions coming in slower than previous years. Expenses have exceeded the budget by $4,000 at this point in the year. The budget for both revenue and expenses is seasonally adjusted to reflect when activity is more likely to occur.

A sampling of the various activities of the conference during the months of April & May:

  • Area Conference Leadership Fund scholarships totaling $7,862 were given to five persons who are attending seminary in anticipation of future church or ministry leadership.
  • $6,900 in Missional Operations Grants were given to two congregations (Boyertown Mennonite Church and New Beginnings Community Church) and one Conference Related Ministry (Philadelphia Mennonite High School) for new ministry projects.
  •  Two young adults were given opportunities to test their gifts through the Ministry Inquiry Program, partnering with Mennonite colleges and congregations.
  • Conference staff Steve Kriss, Director of Leadership Cultivation, has been working with Kirk Hanger and New Hope Fellowship on a new Spanish-speaking church plant in Baltimore.
  •  Conference leaders held various collaborative planning meetings with or concerning:
    • Leaders from several other Mennonite conferences based in the Northeastern states; these meetings occur biannually.
    • Joint youth ministry vision planning meeting with Eastern District and Christopher Dock Mennonite High School.
    • Conference Related Ministry relationships with Living Branches, Philadelphia Mennonite and Christopher Dock Mennonite High Schools, Indian Creek Foundation, and Peaceful Living.
    • New partnering relationships with Eastern District Conference, including moving toward a shared Conference Assembly this fall.
  • Sandy Landes, conference prayer coordinator, hosted an International Day of Prayer and weekly intercessory prayer meetings at the Conference Center.
  • Gay Brunt Miller, Director of Administration, coordinated and facilitated the bi-monthly Conference chaplain’s lunch, which typically includes 12-15 chaplains, at Frederick Mennonite Community.
  • Marlene Frankenfield, Conference Youth Minister, attended the Mennonite Church USA Youth Ministry Council that was held at the Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp in Colorado Springs.

Conference Finance Update — April 2011

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Two months have been completed in the 2011-12 fiscal year. Revenue is slightly ahead of budget at this point, but so are expenses. (The budget for both revenue and expenses is seasonally adjusted to reflect when activity is more likely to occur.)

A sampling of the various activities of the conference during these two months:

  • Franconia Conference School for Leadership Formation: a Damascus Road Training was held at Philadelphia Mennonite High School and two Pastors and Leaders Breakfasts were held.
  • Regional Partnerships: conference leaders attended the Mennonite Church USA Constituency Leadership Council meetings held in Ohio, with leaders from other conferences.
  • $13,500 in Missional Operations Grants was given out to four congregations for new ministry projects. We feature stories from these grants in Intersections.
  • LEAD/Congregational Ministries: the annual Jr. High Youth event was sponsored by the conference again.
  • $1,250 in Leadership Cultivation Grants was given to seven emerging leaders.
  • Ministerial Leadership: Training & Development Grants and Ministerial Counseling Grants were provided to assist three pastors in their development as leaders.
  • Conference Board: Mennonite Health Services is continuing to give board development training for the new board members.
  • $5,990 in assistance was given from the Ministers Retirement Fund to those pastors and spouses who served in the era before retirement funds were established.
2 months
Operating Budget
Actual  Budget
Revenue (from all sources)
$103,983
$98,294
Expenses
$137,947
$132,051
Line of Credit Payment
$4,167
$4,167
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———————
Net
($ 38,131)
$ (37,924)

Intersections Spring 2011

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Finance Update February 2011

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February 1st marked the beginning of a new fiscal year for Franconia Conference. The new year brings additional financial challenges. As congregations continue to tighten their budgets, giving continues to decrease. Congregational giving is forecast to be $64,000 less than what was budgeted last fiscal year, an 11.4% decrease. Decreases in subsidies from properties owned by the conference will also contribute to another $100,000 decrease in revenue for the conference from last year’s budget. This has led to the conference tightening its belt as well; several staff persons who have left over the past year have not been replaced, their roles and tasks being spread over remaining staff.

However, we still believe God is doing great things in our conference and will continue to do so. Conference leadership is looking for a continued partnership between congregations, related ministries, and the conference staff, especially as we expand the LEAD oversight platform throughout the conference.

The budget, passed by the conference board in January, is summarized as follows:

Revenue (from all sources) $851,318
Expenses $815,368
Line of Credit payment $25,000
(repayments over a three-year period for conference center
renovations)
Net $10,950

For more information see http://stewardship.mosaicmennonites.org.