Just got some very discouraging news this week. I got the green light that I am allowed to share this with people. This is the official, on the record, statement from the church about my future employment.
Offerings for the first three months of 2010 have been considerably less than what we have budgeted for – this despite a balanced-budget which already assumed a 30% decrease over 2009.
In plain dollars and cents: we are currently $30,000 short of where we had hoped to be at this time.
Should this trend continue, we would be facing a $106 000 shortfall at year end.
Whereas revenue is the bottom line for many organizations, it is not the measure by which Hillside gauges our community’s health. We are in the service of fostering a community of freedom that worships God in Spirit and Truth; and where our revenue is dedicated toward that end, it does not lead it.
It is important at this time that we affirm the excitement, support, and encouragement we are witnessing within this community. Our revenue may be in decline, but our activity and engagement is only continuing to grow.
We also want to be clear that, as Elders, we are taking this financial shortfall very seriously. We are making every effort to re-adjust our expectations based upon the fiscal reality we now have to work with – and while it is not a situation we would have wished for, it is the soil in which we must continue to plant.
Furthermore, in light of this fiscal constraint we have entered into a conversation with Daryl Andrews regarding his role here at Hillside. As his job stands right now – we simply cannot offer Daryl full time employment past June 30th. That said, we are currently working with Daryl about the viability of a role which continues to see his gifts, passions and relationships utilized despite the cold hard reality of a significantly altered salary.
Discerning the viability of the options we have before us will not be an easy task for the Andrews, or for Hillside, and we would appreciate your prayer over these next few weeks.
Finally, let us underscore the fact that while this transition is pressured by our fiscal situation – it does not fall outside of our recent decisions to undertake a restructuring of our Pastoral Team. That Daryl’s role may change is something we have been working toward – what is new however, is the financial constraints which are now framing that discussion.
We have also been in touch with the rest of our staff and at this time wish to inform you, the congregation, that we will continue to keep you in the loop regarding our revenue and how that will affect our budget as the numbers come in.
If you have any further questions, the elders will be available after the service or to meet at any time throughout the week.
Thanks,
Gordon Russell, Brian Caslick, Jeff Kadlecik, James Kingsley, Steve Mawdsley
To say the least, I was blindsided by this news. It was a bad day. Big understatement. Pray for Tanya & I as we explore means to be able to pay rent, food, and other necessities like that. Also, pray that I will live out grace through this whole process.
