The University Church of Christ is facing a potential deficit in the operational budget this year. According to an email sent out last week to its members, the church is reporting that they collect $1,000 less per week than what the annual operational budget requires.
Multiplying that times the number of weeks in a year, the church expected to have a $50,000 year-end deficit. However, according to the finance ministry, the year-end deficit is not likely to go over the $12,000 mark, thanks to savings in salary and other areas.
The church also reported that the potential deficit was not due to the congregation giving less, but to the church losing some donors, and not having replaced them.
“It was really just a matter of math and judicious observation,” said Dean Emeritus David Beard about discovering the problem. “We hope to replace those units with new families who want to be associated with the dynamic Christian community that is UCC.”
The UCC is hoping that as the congregation continues to grow, the problem will take care of itself.
The elders of the congregation have suggested a solution to the problem. Essentially they would like to divide the $12,000 among the 400 people who regularly worship on Sunday mornings. That means $30 per person. The church hopes that if each person gave $30 (or $100 per family) between now and the end of the year, the deficit issue will be addressed.
The church would like for the suggested amount to be on top of what people usually give to support the University Church.
“This is not an occasion where taking money from one pocket and putting it into another would be helpful,” said a letter from the church elders to its members. “We recognize that some of you will be able to contribute more than the requested amount, and for others of you, it may be difficult to contribute this much.”
Baird agreed: “It is a tough financial climate, but the request was only for a dollar per day.”
“We ask that each person prayerfully consider and respond to this need as you are able,” concluded the letter from the elders.
Senior and member of the church Beverly Cawyer was not surprised by the announcement. “The University Church has such a dynamic membership. So many of us are students; we’re here for part of the year and then we disappear for the summer. With such a fluid membership, I can see how the budget would be affected,” Cawyer said.
Although a college student, Cawyer believes the request made by the elders of the church is an appropriate one. “Even though we’re students, we still have a responsibility to contribute as members of a church, whether that be monetarily or with our time,” Cawyer said.
“At this point, even $5 would be helpful,” Cawyer said about the situation. “Luckily we have families and other members that can support our church, but that doesn’t change the fact that we’re members of a body and we all have a responsibility to be involved.”
Although it’s a difficult situation, Cawyer is optimistic about the future of her church: “We don’t all have a steady income, and it can be difficult to contribute in that way. This may be the case for some, but I have already seen how people have stepped up to the plate so that we can reach the goal.”
