A very good year, and now...

Did you notice that you voted to increase giving by 8%? The Treasurer reports.

Unfortunately, it is probably all too often that the Treasurer has to be a little negative in reporting the annual results of the financial operations of the congregation because offerings fail to meet budget or result in expenses exceeding income. I am therefore delighted to take the opportunity again to underscore the fact that 2007 was a very successful year for St Paul’s. As I reported at this year’s recent Annual General Meeting, offerings for the year totaled $476,469, an increase of $56,509, or 13.5%, over those in 2006. This increase, combined with the savings in budgeted expenses due to the unavoidable delay in the appointment of the Pastoral Assistant – Youth & Family Ministry, resulted in a net surplus for the year of $18,617. Additionally, we were able to take the opportunity to complete and pay for necessary, but not budgeted, renovations to the manse. This was an excellent result and I am sure that a significant part was due to your support of, and commitment to, the Stewardship Campaign conducted early in the year. I thank all who contributed for accepting the financial challenges in 2007 to make this result possible. We thank and praise our Lord for the many blessings He gives through our offerings for His work.

The budget for the 2008 year was also presented to the AGM and accepted (and that decision was ratified again at services the following Sunday). Expenses of the congregation naturally increase with normal cost of living increases, and these are built in to the budget. An additional major increase in the 2008 budget relates to repayment of the loan arranged to meet costs of the planned extensions and alterations to alleviate the lack of space for our family ministry activities. Total budgeted expenditure for 2008 is $519,470 and offerings required to meet these expenses and allow for a small surplus to cover contingencies is $514,600. This represents an increase of $38,131, or 8.0%, over the offerings in 2007 and means that we have to raise, on average, just under $9,900 each week of the year.

8% - that's about like adding an extra month's giving to the year.

I also take this opportunity to again remind you of the availability of direct debit giving of offerings to the congregation. This facility is confidential and very convenient for the giver and takes minimal effort to set up. It is very beneficial to the congregation in that it reduces the large amount of cash that has to be counted and banked each week and alleviates the security problems that this can create. The regularity of these offerings is also beneficial in the scheduling of expense payments. I am happy to provide further information and assist in setting up this facility if required.

Eldon Eckermann