Senior Warden's Report

Dick Taylor

At the December 2004 meeting of the vestry, the budget for 2005 was adopted - one month ahead of schedule! For the first time in memory, the vestry actually adopted a budget prior to the beginning of the year and the period covered by that budget. Due to the generosity of our parishioners and the strong response to the annual giving campaign, we were able to fully fund the new clergy position as well as increase the program and outreach budget significantly.

All of the requested increases in the budget were not funded, but the full requests for outreach and Christian education were included. Music, youth ministry, stewardship, and communications were increased - though not as much as requested.

The budget was in part based upon assumptions that prior year pledges not yet received would be returned - we encourage anyone who has not made their pledge to do so soon.

The vestry and finance committee are grateful for the strong support that the parish has shown for the ministry of the Chapel of the Cross. For the last several years, January has been full of difficult and long meetings so as to cut program budgets below levels needed by staff and volunteer leaders. This year, we cancelled the budget work session - the hard work was done last fall in the successful annual giving campaign.

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© 2005 The Chapel of the Cross