Last month in the Octagram we talked about UUC finances - where the money comes from and where it goes. About 70% of our funding comes from pledges by individual members and friends in support of UUC. Funding from other sources is expected to be stable next year. About 70% of our expenses are for staff salaries and benefits, 25% are for fixed operational costs (buildings, utilities, etc.) and UUA/regional dues, leaving about 5% for discretionary funds for programs and activities. 

Pledge income is the foundation of our church finances, so this month we present some things for you to consider as you prepare to renew your pledge. Pledge renewals are received by the end of March, after which the Finance Committee prepares a budget for Board and congregation approval by the June 1 start of the new fiscal year.

As a newcomer to "stewardship," I have been reading on the topic and find that the websites of UUA and other religions have a wealth of information. The Christian churches emphasize that giving is spiritually healthy and that "...the church has a legitimate claim on us that is different from any other outfit on the planet." This is true for our UUC church, which is why we have our Stewardship Celebration each year. We celebrate the programs and activities that are the foundations of our ministry and that are the reasons why we are a part of UUC. We also celebrate the time, talents and treasures we give to UUC as our personal ministry.

The culmination of the Stewardship Celebration is pledge renewal that invariably raises the question, "how much should I pledge?" As a practical matter, we all have to manage our own finances responsibly and wisely. But, as a spiritual matter, we UUs know that as we pursue our own spiritual journeys we also want to use our resources generously. So, what is a generous contribution to UUC?

Generosity comes from the heart. We usually know when we have been generous, but can't put it in words. But there are a number of ways to get some type of measure of our generosity. One way is to compare our own contribution with others in similar circumstances -- measure against the norm of our social circle. Some of my peers give the full biblical tithe of 10% of income to their church. Many don't go to church but give generously to other organizations. The UUA has studied this in depth and has published a Suggested Fair-Share Giving Guide, summarized below. It is not in any way a requirement but does provide a point of reference in answering the question "how much?"   

There are some amongst us who were or are supporting someone who has had a significant loss of income during the recent severe economic conditions. Those who have not been so adversely affected can help compensate for the less fortunate. We could think about increasing our contribution as a gift to those who are suffering from the recession and cannot contribute much. 

We, the UUC congregation provide all our own funding. For the coming year, the Finance Committee has estimated that pledge income of $320,000 will support the same level of staff, facilities and program as the current year. That is about 10% above last year's pledges to account for operating cost escalations and restoring some items dropped from the current budget. With 311 pledging members and friends, an average donation of $1,030 per person will meet the goal of $320,000. But everyone cannot give equally.

Some observations (please see graphics below this article as well):

• 10% of the larger pledges provided 40% of the pledge total (average $3,500 each)

• 35% of mid-range pledges provided 40% of the pledge total (average $1,035 each)

• 55% of smaller pledges provided 20% of the pledge total (average $350 each)

The problem with the current distribution of pledges is that UUC is too dependent on a few donors giving relatively large amounts. We encourage those donors in the mid-range to think about their contribution and to be sure it is generous, in keeping with our spiritual principles.

For those who would like to know more about UUC finances, please attend Open Issues, 9:30 a.m., February 7, in the Patio Room for a lively discussion on this topic with the Treasurer (Bill Norsworthy), Finance Chair (Ed Kraemer) and Stewardship Chairs (Owen Thompson and Bill Snell).

-- Owen Thompson, Stewardship Chair, 410-730-3494