Supporting the ministry of Barkham church

2008 Summary Budget

	Arborfield PCC	Barkham PCC	Whitehouse PCC	Total
Outgoings
Mission support	6,200	7,900	5,940	20,040
Parish share and minister costs	46,202	27,627	46,202	120,031
Staff costs (Ben Thorndike)	15,000	-	-	15,000
Church buildings	5,000	5,400	-	10,400
Church activities	7,500	3,600	5,000	16,100
Contribution to central costs	10,107	26,727	10,107	46,941
Total expenditure	90,009	71,254	67,249	228,512
Income
General income	62,000	79,000	59,400	200,400
Restricted income	6,800	-	-	6,800
Total income	68,800	79,000	59,400	207,200
Balance of funds	-21,209	7,749	-7,849	-21,312

Explanatory notes

Barkham PCC: This includes the 9.30 congregation and Sundays@7.

Mission support: Each PCC aims to give 10% of their regular income to support our partner organisation in international mission.

Parish share and minister costs: These figures include the full ministry costs of Piers Bickersteth (Rector) and John Parker (Minister at the Whitehouse) which will be paid to the Deanery (£76,000 - in excess of parish share request of £68,000). Barkham ministry costs are significantly less due to the interregnum, and will rise by £19,000 in 2009. The full cost of employing a minister is approximately £4,000 per month.

Church buildings and activities: This includes the costs of all regular and one-off activities, together with the regular costs of running the buildings. (*The figure for Barkham does not include the costs of aintenance work that needs to be carried out following the last Quinquennial Review, for which we are organising a separate appeal.)

Contribution to central costs: Includes the costs of David Horrocks (a higher proportion is charged to Barkham, given his involvement in Sundays@7) and the costs of the church office.

Summary

While there is a budgeted deficit, we should be encouraged at the giving that has been pledged. This is wonderful evidence that God has been at work in his people by his Holy Spirit, and so is a great cause for thankfulness. But we should also continue to pray for our ongoing needs, that - in God's grace - we might close the deficit by the end of the year... and indeed exceed it!

What does this mean for Barkham and Sundays@7?

One of the helpful things about this reorganisation of funds between the three Parish Church Councils (PCCs) is that it helps us to see the real costs of running each church. Our goal remains for each church to take responsibility for meeting its budgeted costs. But we recognise that we are in a period of transition and are committed to supporting one another as required.

On the basis of the figures above, it might be tempting for those of us at Barkham (Sundays@7 and the Barkham 9.30 service) to look at the projected surplus for 2008, breath a big sigh of relief, and sit back. And certainly we should praise God for a significant increase in giving from our two congregations!

In particular, we should praise him for gifts of £12,840 net (£16,440 gross) in response to the Special Maintenance Appeal for the church building, which means that we are now some £40,000 towards the total required.

There are, however, three things that we should bear in mind:

1. Had our new minister, Julian, arrived in January, our ministry costs for 2008 would be £46,000 and we would face a deficit of nearly £11,000.
2. We need to raise another £85,000 (on top of normal giving) over the next six years for the maintenance work for the church building.
3. Potentially we face a wonderful opportunity to offer financial assistance to our brothers and sisters at Arborfield and the Church at the White House, should they need it, in 2008.

There are about 110 adults who come to Barkham and Sundays@7 on a regular basis. Currently, about 60% of these are giving to the Barkham PCC, and we are very grateful for their generosity. But it would be wonderful to see a higher propertion of our congregation supporting the ministry financially.

Did you know that:

If ten new givers started giving £10 per week, we would raise another £5,200 per year?

If ten new givers started giving £100 per month, we would raise another £12,000 per year?

Just imagine how the ministry at Barkham could grow if this happened!

If you would like to start giving or inrease your existing giving please take one of the forms from the back of the church or have a word with Steve Grundy, our Treasurer, on 0118 977 1667 or at steve.grundy@btopenworld.com.