=> Forming => Parish Reports => 2004
=> Forming => Parish Reports => 2004
I would like to review what I think are important developments in the past year, and to describe what I see as challenges, and opportunities in the near future.
In January, Bishop Cederholm visited us. This had several consequences:
First, we agreed to invest a portion of our endowment, not in Wall Street, but in another parish. In particular, we agreed to lend to St Paul's Bedford, the sum of $150 thousand, to be repaid over a 15-year period, with interest, and the loan is guaranteed by the diocese. There can be no default.
But this turned out to be more than a financial arrangement. Father Frank Fornaro, and his congregation, have agreed to share their experiences, to enrich us in many ways. Already, women from St Paul's have come to St Margaret's Guild meeting, and Frank has led your vestry in a retreat. We hope that this is only the beginning.
Second, Bishop Cederholm asked if we would consider forming a "second congregation", reaching out to the community not yet reached by the church. Nothing happened in 2004, but I expect that this will be a major topic for 2005.
Lastly, I got much more involved as a diocesan volunteer, working with staff at Tremont Street, and with parishes in other deaneries. I would urge others to consider this work.
In 2004, your vestry committed the parish to have, on a regular basis, reviews of our mutual ministries. This involves monitoring progress toward goals, and determining what works, and what doesn't work, as we try to achieve those goals.
In order to begin, we have established goals for the leadership of the parish. The diocese has been very helpful, supplying guides and advice on how to proceed.
We have established goals in attendance, stewardship, and active participation to be reached during 2005, and further goals related to pledges, attendance, choir, education, and oversight to be reached in 2006.
We have agreed that a long-term goal of the parish is to maintain the continuing use of Rite I at the later service.
Fr Frank Fornaro, at the vestry retreat this month, has worked with the Vestry to focus on our goals, ensuring that they are appropriate, and achievable.
In 2004, we began a Stewardship Campaign that was a little different. Rather than send one letter to all, we tried to identify the various groups of people who contribute to Trinity, and to tailor the appeal to each group. Of some 150 people who have given financial support over the last 5 years, we identified these groups:
Those who gave only designated offerings, such as the seasonal appeals, and flowers;
Those who once gave regularly, but who do so no longer; and
Those who gave with varying degrees of regularity, now totaling some fifty in number.
We found that the very regular contributors had typically increased their contributions through the years, at some 10% per year, far faster than inflation. However, the number of very regular contributors had decreased by one-third over the last five years. We have a congregation that is more and more generous, but fewer and fewer in numbers, year by year.
We must find ways to attract more people, to change visitors into members, and to encourage members to continue to give generously. (This goes back to Bishop Cederholm's interest in forming a second congregation.)
One of the comments that we heard during the Stewardship Campaign was, "Why should I donate to Trinity? It doesn't need my money; it's rich." One of the possible responses is, "Trinity doesn't need to receive; but you need to give, in response to God's gifts to you." That's solid theology, but for many it isn't powerful psychology.
Therefore, I will work with the vestry during 2005 to change what we do with pledge income. I propose to pay all the ordinary bills out of the income from the endowment, and to use pledge income for outreach and mission. In Haverhill, we can give much more to Joyful Ladle, Boy's Club, Girl's Inc, Emmaus, Ruth's House, and so on. In the nation, we can support theological education, and mission work. In the world, we can contribute (through the diocese) to the Millennium Development Goals, and to Episcopal Relief and Development.
The result will be that in 2005, we will have a strong answer to the question, "why should I give?" We will be able to point to the needy and the suffering, in our midst, and around the world, and say, "They need it."
Thank you all for an interesting year of challenges and opportunities. I ask your continuing prayers for the entire Vestry, and especially for the newly elected members.
Respectfully submitted,
Milton Boyd