The Preliminaries (the same as last year) First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, Texas May 15, 2016 Annual Meeting

Transcription

1 The Preliminaries (the same as last year) First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, Texas May 15, 2016 Annual Meeting

2 Meeting Formalities Agenda Establish Quorum Appointment of Roles Meeting Rules vote Covenant Approve minutes from last year vote Elections Nominating Committee & Board nominees - vote State of the Church Presentation Budget presentation - vote

3 Meeting Organization Museum District: Chairperson/President Karen Carlson Thoreau/Stafford Coordinator Deirdre Hammons Copperfield Coordinator Tracy Cook Process Observer Michael Morrison Timekeeper Jennifer Sorrells Parliamentarian Jeff Skarda Master Teller Jennifer Sorrells

4 Speak for 2 min. Meeting rules for adoption Same as last year Don t speak a second time until others have had opportunity to speak After 10 min. there will be automatic vote to cease/continue discussion Please speak to the chairperson/camera The camera can see your face that way. The other campuses would like to see your face. Tell us: Your name Are you FOR or AGAINST the issue? Make your statement.

5 Candidates for Office Nominations from the Nominating Committee

6 Board of Trustees New Candidates 3 year term Bob Miller Museum District Jan Elias Thoreau Frances Johnson Museum District Other Board members for Michael Morrison Museum District Vice President John Vindekilde Thoreau Joe Zuchlewski Museum District Jennifer Sorrells Museum District Allan Perkins Copperfield Linda Richardson Museum District Retiring Board members Tracy Cook Copperfield Deirdre Hammons Thoreau Karen Carlson, President Museum District

7 Nominating Committee New Candidates 2 year term Andy Savidge Copperfield Kendra Pecci Museum District Other committee members for Garth Ogzewalla, Chair Thoreau Marilyn Knight Museum District Mary Koch Museum District Board Past President Board representative (VP is recommended) Retiring Members Joyce Ambler Museum District Andy Savidge Copperfield David Smith, Past President Museum District Michael Morrison, Board VP Museum District

8 State of the Church Where we have been and where are we going? First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, Texas May 15, 2016 Annual Meeting Presented by the Board of Trustees

9 Mission Statement A spiritual community for all: advancing justice and embracing diversity with love and acceptance. Jointly created with all three campuses. Adopted at Annual Meeting last year.

10 New Ends Statements (Goals of the Church) P - Promote love and acceptance E - Extend Unitarian Universalism C - Create Community A - Advance Justice N - Nourish Spirituality Intentionally simple and broad to allow Sr. Minister and staff to be creative in implementation Board monitors and communicates to congregation

11 Rev. O Connell arrives New Initiatives of the Last Five Years Worship Social Justice Extend UU MD moves from 1 to 2 services Short term Soc. Just. Projects Signature Soc. Just. Project-MD Copperfield (Jan 13) Core ministry focus UUV4J Thoreau (Jul 13) Growth Groups Connect, Grow, Serve Faith Walking for Humanists - CF Signature Soc. Just. Project-CF Ministerial help for Northwoods Financial Growth MD Capital Campaign MD Capital Campaign Membership Team MD Social media outreach experiment - TS

12 Nourish Spirituality Worship Simple church (Core ministry focus) Focus main resources on the Core Ministries of the church; worship, RE, SJ, etc. Splits Enrichment Opportunities from Core Ministries Growth Groups Take the ideas of the sermons and take it to the next level Connect, Grow, Serve Simple refocus of how we progress in our faith New small groups (CF) Faith Walking for Humanists

13 Advance Justice Social Justice Short term Social Justice Projects Currently have ~27 individual projects across 3 campuses Signature Social Justice Project (MD) Large multi-year commitment to Healthy Parenting UUV4J (UU Voice for Justice) 2013 Greater Houston UU community to be prepared to rapidly respond to current social injustice issues Issues: Religious pluralism, LGBTQ, reproductive rights, racial equality Joint effort with Houston Area UU Churches Signature Social Justice Project (CF) New tutoring & mentoring project at Horne Elementary

14 Advance Justice Signature Projects (oldest to youngest) Thoreau Dream Scholarship Program (Thoreau) $35-40,000/year in scholarships (8-10 college students/year) 12% increase in contributions ($4,000), post merger From church members, fund raising events, corporate sponsors Healthy Parenting (Museum District) Tutoring & Mentoring at Lawson Academy in 3 rd Ward Tutoring, mentoring, and child care at Project Row Houses in 3 rd Ward Last 18 months: 64 church participants gave >2,000 hours of service Horne Elementary (Copperfield) Tutoring, Mentoring, and various forms of teacher support New project

15 Extend Unitarian Universalism Building UU Relationships Multisite 2013 Joined 3 churches Copperfield, Thoreau, Museum District Greater ministerial depth with 4 ministers Collaborative environment between ministers, RE & music directors More variety, sharing of ideas, greater depth of ministries & programs A team creates stronger foundation for stability and growth Improved efficiency of administration Connections Ministerial advice/ support for Northwoods UU

16 Extend Unitarian Universalism Celebrating the beginnings of our suburban presence Thoreau Celebrates 20 th Anniversary May 12, 1996 Special thanks to the Charter Members still active Joanie Havlick, Ron Hammons, Peggy DeMarsh, Elaine Hickey, Noel Zinn, Deirdre Hammons, Ann Reed, Gene Reed, Valerie Tolman, Davis Tolman Copperfield Celebrates 21 st Anniversary April 9,1995 Special thanks to the Charter Members still active Allan Perkins, Dana Ashrawi

17 Pledge Units Pledge Units Pledge Units Length of Membership (by Pledge Unit) ~40% of congregation is new within the past 5 years % of pu Thoreau to 5 5 to to to to to Membership in years Museum District 43% of pu 0 to 5 5 to to to to to Membership in years % of pu Copperfield 0 to 5 5 to to to to to Membership in years

18 Members Our UU Neighborhood 43 UU Churches in Texas 8 have membership >200 3 rd largest UU church in TX FU Dallas 1020 Texas UU Churches FUU Austin 605 FUU Houston FUU Houston Rev. O Connell arrives Growth since 2010 Organic growth at MD Merger of MD, CF, TS Emerson 2010 Bay Area Northwoods Thoreau Copperfield From UUA Southern Region Staff 2015

19 Financial Capital Campaign (MD) Implementing of successful capital campaign, Playground is complete Chancel is complete Foundation & bathrooms summer 2016 Detailed information to be supplied separately* All campus budgets are balanced (policy requirement) More in Budget Section *see Capital Campaign Handout

20 Did You Know? Religious Education (all campuses) ~110 children & youth are regular participants ~15% of congregation volunteer for RE RE Teachers - 31 Young adult leaders - 3 Mentors - 6 OWL Teachers - 7 Parent Group - 7 Growth group leaders - 13 Summer RE teachers paid staff 1 ¼ DRE 10 part time child care workers

21 Did You Know? ~70% of total congregation participated in SJ projects Est. ~80% of congregation participated in at least 1 church ministry/activity High involvement of members: good sign of church health ~50% of CF participation in Faith Walking for Humanists small groups ~10% of congregation participates on Welcome Teams ~10% of congregation participates in Music Ministry Giving to Our Communities/SJ ( ) Shared half our offering ($20,000) with community partners Thoreau Scholarship* ($37,000) Social Justice budget ($3,200) *Thoreau scholarship is separate dedicated fund and not shown as a budget item

22 Thinking Ahead More than 90% of US churches are declining We are doing far better that most, but always want to do better Churches that grow are outwardly focused* Our church is certainly outwardly focused But there is no magic formula for growth Board of Trustees & Senior Minister believe that growth is essential to the future of the church Rev. O Connell recently began focusing on growth initiatives Recent initiatives in progress New membership team (MD) help build connections with new members Social media outreach experiment (TS) Revisions to website (our primary window to the world) * McIntosh & Arn, 2013

23 Rev. O Connell arrives New Initiatives of the Last Five Years Worship Social Justice Extend UU MD moves from 1 to 2 services Short term Soc. Just. Projects Signature Soc. Just. Project-MD Copperfield (Jan 13) Core ministry focus UUV4J Thoreau (Jul 13) Growth Groups Connect, Grow, Serve Faith Walking for Humanists - CF Signature Soc. Just. Project-CF Ministerial help for Northwoods Financial Growth MD Capital Campaign MD Capital Campaign Membership Team MD Social media outreach experiment - TS

24 Thanks to your time, talent, and treasure First Church has accomplished a lot on all 3 campuses in the last 5 years You are always invited to share your comments or visions for the future through the Healthy Communications Team, the Board of Trustees, or the Ministers Thank you

25 Budget Highlights First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, Texas May 15, 2016 Annual Meeting

26 Church income is down Financial Highlights Generous givers. Many pledge increases from members Increased number of member early retirements, going part-time, and lay offs Budget would have been up had it not been for increased retirements and layoffs Projected income is down at many charitable organizations due to local economic factors Includes charitable organizations such as United Way, Jewish family services, and others Policy requires church budget to be balanced

27 Financial Highlights Budget Compared to Current Year Copperfield budget down 5% (~$3,000) Overall income down $7,000, expenses reduced $3,000 Deficit of $4,100 Thoreau budget down 14% (~$22,000) Pledge income down $23,400 Due primarily to retirements, job loss, and move Campus minister change from half to quarter time Will attempt to maximize ministerial face time on Sundays Museum District budget down 1% (~$5,000) Pledge income is down $3,000 (~ ½ %) Reduced income expectations Reduced expectation for Inspiration Sunday ($10,000) down by $5,000 Reduced expectation from auction ($13,000) down by $9,000 Higher expenses: bank fees, insurance, maint. & many small items (~$6,000) Net staff cut (~$10,000) Cut hours of part-time administrative staff Add 5 hr/wk bookkeeper

28 Financial Highlights Sustainability For first time the budget relies on drawing upon existing funds to supplement the budget Copperfield: $4,100 (~ 7% of budget) CF Bldg. Fund Thoreau: $28,100 (~21% of budget) TS Oper. Fund Museum District: $8,000 (~ 1% of budget) MD Endowment Growth These draw downs may be minimized or eliminated if situation improves Supplemental funds drawdown not sustainable over the long term Overall charitable giving is down this year, signs are for economy to pick up next year Embarking on a publicity campaign for all three campuses this fall to bring in new members

29 Staff & Compensation* Treasurer & full Board review all ministerial & staff compensation Compensation is within UUA guidelines One exception due to big change in UUA guidelines. Partially rectified this year, to be fully rectified next year Changes from last year First Church minimum wage is $12/hr., up from $10/hr. Benefits now given to ¾ time staff compared to full time Employees (half time or more) on a 52 rather than 50 week schedule. Means a minimum 2 weeks vacation for all staff working at least 20 hrs/wk. Employees who have preferred health benefits or certain pensions elsewhere, may instead receive the cash equivalent in lieu of the First Church benefit. * See Staff & Compensation handout

30 Programs 8% $61,482 General Budget Allocation all campuses Financial 5% $45,055 Total Budget $822,770 Facilities 25% $204,676 Personnel 62% $511,557 4 full time 21 part time Personnel Facilities Programs Financial Utilities Insurance Office Maintenance Rent People Full time Part time 4 ministers DREs Office staff Music Director Accompanists Child care Sextons 0 2

31 MD Social Justice Budget Petition $20,000 Shared offering to community partners $ 3,200 Healthy Parenting ($750), SJ team general ($2,450) $ 714 UU Tx Justice Network $23,914 Total SJ Line item* Petition requests increasing non-shared offering budget $3,200 $6,364** or approx $3,164 more If the suggested changes are made, the budget still does not change * See handout on how Social Justice funds are allocated at MD ** This number is 1% of the MD budget of $636,422

32 Final Budget Comments Budget is balanced Short term use of various existing funds Is a reasonable allocation to fund the different ministries of the church Supported by Board of Trustees