Responsible Money Focus Helps Fellowship Thrive

  For many years money wasn’t talked about at Fox Valley UU Fellowship. Pledge cards were simply handed out at the annual meeting. Now, money is discussed in sermons, newsletter articles, during the canvass, and at newcomer sessions. Friends and members are invited to give 3 to 5 percent of gross income. Reality is, on average, closer to 1 percent. The median household pledge is $900.

  The budget for the fiscal year that began July 1 is $345,000. Members pledged $309,000, a 6 percent increase over ‘03-04. The rest is projected to come from new pledges through the year plus one-time donations ($27,000), other fundraisers ($10,000), RE fees ($7,000), and Sunday collections ($5,000). Pledge shrinkage is 5 percent.

  RE fees are $25 for one child or $50 per family. Adult RE costs $10/class ($20 annual maximum). The fees were implemented because of a general church culture in Appleton that accepts fees. No one is turned away for inability to pay.

  The largest categories of expenses are staff costs, $220,000; mortgage, district and UUA dues, $82,000; and administrative costs (postage, utilities), $17,500.

  Staff compensation is a little below UUA recommendations. “We keep growing and getting into a different size category,” says the Rev. Roger Bertschausen. “Right now we’re within a few thousand of UUA guidelines for two of our three full-time positions.” Director of religious education Ann Barker earns just under $35,000 and receives $2,900 in professional ex-penses. She has health benefits and is part of the UUA pension plan. She is a credentialed religious educator at the master’s level and has been a religious educator for nine years, all at Fox Valley.

  Bertschausen’s salary and housing is $65,635. In addition, he receives $5,000 for Social Security, $8,532 for retirement benefits, $4,250 for professional expenses, and $12,600 for health, disability, life, and dental insurance.

  Office administrator Diane Coch-ran’s package includes $32,136 in salary, health insurance of $5,760 (taken as cash), a disability premium of $386, and $4,178 contributed to the UUA pension fund. The quarter-time music director receives $9,270 and no benefits.

  Fox Valley contributes half the suggested UUA Annual Program Fund Fair Share amount per member (full amount is $50). “That’s something we’re going to work on,” says Bertschausen. “It’s been all we can do to keep up with our growth.”

  To be a member requires signing the membership book and making a financial contribution of record. New members are told they are expected to get involved with a program or project of their choosing and make a financial contribution. “We’re not a high-expectation congregation, but we’re making that transition,” says Bertschausen.

  Canvassing is done different ways––in-home, through Celebration Sundays, and at house parties. This past year there were 52 canvassers for 294 pledging units. Starting this fall each new member will be canvassed upon joining. An explanation of giving is also part of the Introduction to Unitarian Universalism series of classes that new people are invited to.

  Weekend attendance at Fox Valley is 350, equal to the definition of a large congregation, but the budget and staffing are that of a midsize congregation. “That’s the tension here,” said Bertschausen. “We’re always a little behind the level we should be at for the number of friends and members we have.”

  The congregation held a capital campaign several years ago for its new building, raising $450,000 and borrowing an equal amount.

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