The below is the text that precedes the 2007 budget proposal for the Community Ministry. I welcome your comments.
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The Community Ministry Plan for 2007 is an investment plan. Last year, nearly a dozen various events and programs were planned for the 2006 calendar year. A quick glance reveals that most of these did not materialize.
Rather than a slew of programs, this year’s budget is built on two platforms: Education and Relationships.
The educational platform will present opportunities for exposure to and discussion of poverty, its causes and effects, both in this country and abroad. This may take the form of classes, small group discussions, presentations, volunteerism, tours of facilities, guest speakers, or other activities that present the opportunity to expose our hearts and minds to a topic close to the heart of God. The aim of this educational platform is to engage poverty with an eye to the response Christ would ask of us as his disciples.
The relationships platform will focus on building new relationships and strengthening existing ones between the church and nonprofit organizations, city departments, and other churches in the area. This is an element that doesn’t show up in the budget because there is little to no cost. This goal will be achieved primarily through volunteering with various groups such as Habitat, PATH, NAMI, local cities, and other groups.
These two elements together comprise a plan that will build over the coming years toward greater financial investment in our community, especially that which directly benefits the poor. What forms this investment will take are undetermined. They will undoubtedly flow out of the resources, passions and talent of our faith community seeking to meet the needs of our larger community.
It is worth noting that 1.6% of our 2006 plan was slated for programs that directly benefit the poor. Actual expenditures for 2006 will probably be lower than this. Additionally, over 90% of our 2006 budget was marked for programs, services, properties, materials, staff, and other items that benefit the membership. Who are the ones benefiting most from the budget, and is this the way we want it to be?
Rather than a slew of programs, this year’s budget is built on two platforms: Education and Relationships.
The educational platform will present opportunities for exposure to and discussion of poverty, its causes and effects, both in this country and abroad. This may take the form of classes, small group discussions, presentations, volunteerism, tours of facilities, guest speakers, or other activities that present the opportunity to expose our hearts and minds to a topic close to the heart of God. The aim of this educational platform is to engage poverty with an eye to the response Christ would ask of us as his disciples.
The relationships platform will focus on building new relationships and strengthening existing ones between the church and nonprofit organizations, city departments, and other churches in the area. This is an element that doesn’t show up in the budget because there is little to no cost. This goal will be achieved primarily through volunteering with various groups such as Habitat, PATH, NAMI, local cities, and other groups.
These two elements together comprise a plan that will build over the coming years toward greater financial investment in our community, especially that which directly benefits the poor. What forms this investment will take are undetermined. They will undoubtedly flow out of the resources, passions and talent of our faith community seeking to meet the needs of our larger community.
It is worth noting that 1.6% of our 2006 plan was slated for programs that directly benefit the poor. Actual expenditures for 2006 will probably be lower than this. Additionally, over 90% of our 2006 budget was marked for programs, services, properties, materials, staff, and other items that benefit the membership. Who are the ones benefiting most from the budget, and is this the way we want it to be?
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