Synod Budget Cuts Affect Tables, Staff

One of the most difficult things we do as leaders in administrative ministry is to make personnel cuts due to budgetary realities. Because of our significant budget challenges, we must find $225,000 in our synodical budget for upcoming fiscal 2010 (a fiscal year that will begin on 2/1/2010), to be balanced. We have already made significant cuts in all areas of our budget (except for co- and shared ministries) which was done before and now we must cut one full-time employee to balance our budget. Rev. Heather Hammond, bishop’s associate, will be completing her work on February 15, 2010. We are currently working to cover the areas that Rev. Hammond oversaw, like Candidacy and Global Companion relationships. 

We have also frozen the dollars dedicated to the Tables (Leadership, Partnership, Global Companion, Mission) for six months and then we will evaluate in July and hope our financial situation improves. We have also frozen salaries of all the synod staff for the past two years. The Synod Council is currently preparing a Proposed Revised FY2010 budget reflecting an expected decrease in Mission Support revenues.

I know that these times are extraordinarily fiscally challenging for our congregations. My belief is that this budget deficit is an anomaly connected to the economic times. As you may remember, the synod staff is now down three full time employees from full strength and I know for the short run, we may be able to grow our mission but this would only be enhanced at full strength, which is a place we need to be. I would encourage you to see if a special gift above and beyond your already pledged/given Mission Support would be possible. As you know, our ability to grow our mission at the churchwide and synod levels is deeply challenged.

I rejoice in this ministry and great mission. We as a staff will work hard to keep our programs and initiatives intact and moving forward. We will learn how to live with a sense of God’s gracious abundance as we learn to live and work with less.
 

Bishop Craig Johnson