Recorder: Phil Whitney

The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. by Vice Moderator Matt Early. Absent were Nancy MacLean, Elsa Peters, Carrie Skeffington and Elinor Redmond.

The opening prayer was given by Phil Whitney.

Review of Minutes and Comments /Discussion
• Discovery Center –The Discovery Center has been able to meet monthly payments on last year’s $5000 loan despite being short two students. Two more students are needed, however, to insure break-even income.

• Rental Property – The renter at the Cottage/Sawyer Road property continues to be two months late in rental payments, continues to keep animals in violation of the rental contract and is unresponsive to notices from the property committee. A walk-through is scheduled for Saturday by a property committee member and an eviction is planned.

• The Minutes were approved.

Ministers’ Time
• Elsa is away at a Young Ministers Conference in St. Louis and will report on the conference at the November meeting of the Council.

• John reported that the Cumberland County Association of UCC has scheduled a Boundary training session on Tuesday, November 8 from 9 – 12 noon at our church to discuss moral and ethical standards effecting clergy in their interactions with staff. Church members are invited.

• John has met and welcomed two new clergy to the South Portland area: Jerry Saks, Rabbi at the Reformed Jewish Synagogue and Timothy Boggs at the St. Albans Episcopal Church in Cape Elizabeth. Also, Debra Davis Johnston, previous Pastor of Immanuel Baptist in Portland, will take over the combined church of Williston West UCC and Immanuel United Baptist in Portland as Senior Pastor.

General Business
• Personnel Committee – John McCall reported that the Committee is actively working with staff about accomplishing custodial duties.

• Budget Committee – The 2012 Budget Committee is being formed and consists of Matt Early, Chair, John McCall, Roger Addor, and John Shoos. Nancy MacLean and Andy Ellis are still considering.

• The Council approved a request from an organic farmer in New Sharon to use the church parking lot for an hour on Tuesday, November 22 to distribute dressed turkeys previously ordered from him. He has used the Woodfords Church’s lot and needs a location in this area. He will donate a turkey to a charity of our choice.

• John Shoos submitted a detailed report on behalf of the Financial Futuring Committee. Please note enclosed/attached report* or pick up a report from the office. There was some general discussion and agreement with the Committee’s recommendation.

• Carl Murphy asked for Council approval for the Eskimos Men’s Club to hold the annual fudge and cookie sale on Sunday, December 18. Approval was granted.

The next meeting will be November 17, 2011 with Elinor Redmond as Opener/Recorder.

The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

* FCCUCC Working Group on Financial Futuring
October 19, 2011

Charge to this Group
1. Understand financial trends in our church and similar churches
o Review operating budgets over last ten years for trends and insights
 Percentages for staff (salary and benefits), mission, program expense, etc.
 Percentages of income from various sources
o Compare these figures to sampling of other congregations
 What are the average staff costs/total budget
 What is the average % of OCWM/total budget

2. Understand the work of the Investment Oversight Committee
 How do they understand they are directed?
 Are they open to distributing more the 4% of principal?

3. Understand the priorities of members: Engage the congregation, ask
 Relative priority of current staffing model, compensation, benefits, etc.
 Current mission priorities
 Can members foresee any scenario where they would support drawing from principle of invested funds? What scenarios? For how long?
 Consider forced choices (e.g. given need to cut budget 10% would you favor personnel cuts first, last or not at all?)

Summary of Takeaways – Financial Trends
Church Budget
• Overall it appears our church budget is comparable to other area churches in terms of percentages allocated to each budget area (with exception of Brunswick)
• FCCUCC has a number of discretionary funds outside the operational budget

Membership & Pledging
• 2011: 758 members & 490 households; 2 year trend (2010, 2011) is flat; 5 year trend is downward 2006: 818 members & 519 households
• 2011 there were 283 pledges totaling $358,000 from total membership of 758; 5 year trend is downward 2006: 332 households pledging $412,000
• Average 2011 pledge per household: $1,256 annually
• Top 26 households pledge $135,000
• Of top 26 households, we may lose $45,000 at any time due to age and infirmity, etc. and $55,000 more in 5-10 year range
• A large portion of our giving comes from a small percentage of members: 9% of households give 33% of our income
• Next generation giving at lower amount

Maintenance
• Endowment fund balance for Maintenance approximately $209,000
• Many major maintenance expenses have been addressed in last 4 years – roof, steeple, window replacement – with highest expenditure in 2010 ($128,291)
• Property maintenance (insurance, utilities, maintenance) averaging $69,000/year over last 4 years

Personnel
• Overall, staff compensation is comparable to other area churches (with exception of Brunswick)
• Senior clergy compensation model based on years of experience shows John McCall is a bargain!
• Hiring future senior pastor will likely require similar compensation for less years of experience
• Currently we are adequately staffed
• Need for part-time elder minister position could be assessed as elderly population is declining

Next Steps
Financial Futuring group has examined first two questions of its task. Engaging congregation in discernment and prioritization is next.

Recommendation:
See how current stewardship season progresses. In January, if pledges are not sufficient to meet budget needs, engage congregation in discussion. Council or Financial Futuring group develop scenarios for congregation to consider and discuss.
For example – 3 scenarios:
• 2nd appeal
• Cut expenses through personnel
• Cut expenses in other areas of budget