2025 Budget Reconsideration

I am writing to give you an update on the Corporation's work on the budget reconsideration.

At St. Jude's Annual Vestry Meeting, the motion to accept the proposed Operating Budget was defeated; a motion requesting that the Corporation reconsider the budget, in light of comments and questions which had come forward, was approved, with a request for a report back to Vestry in six weeks. That would have been today.

The Corporation (churchwardens and clergy) has been working hard to meet these aims, and considerable progress has been made. This past week, a draft budget was presented to Parish Council for discussion and feedback. This new budget proposal is the result of meetings and consultations with various groups, such as (1) the Investment Oversight Committee (IOC), advising the Corporation on the prudent uses of investment funds to support parish operations; (2) the Stewardship Committee,  providing a reasonable estimation of 2025 parish giving; (3) various budget stakeholders, committees and parish ministries; (4) a number of parishioners who have shared helpful advice. Cost-saving measures have been explored, and cash forecasts have been refined. The Corporation will have met seven times, including this week, to carry out carefully and prayerfully this work.

I wish to thank the current wardens, immediate past wardens, treasurer, the Parish Council, committee chairs and members, staff, and many others who have assisted in this work. Significant progress has been made in identifying ways to reduce the forecasted deficit. The Corporation will be meeting again this week to review the Parish Council’s feedback, with a view to finalizing the proposal to bring to a Special Vestry Meeting in the near future.

Our challenge now is how best to communicate the information that we have brought together so that members of Vestry can have an informed understanding of the proposal. Please pray for wisdom as we finish this task: this has been a busy time but also an exciting season that is full of renewal and promise.  As we work together to plan the road ahead, we remain focused on God’s love, faithfulness, and mission.

With Holy Week and Easter soon here, the Special Vestry will take place after these special celebrations. We will communicate with you again soon to announce the Special Vestry Meeting date and provide you with the proposal and supporting documents for your review.

May God's peace be with you all in this Passiontide.

David +