1. 2019 ended with our first year of net membership growth since 2014, we ended the year with 571 members compared to 556 members in 2018.
2. 2019 ended with more families supporting the church financially, we ended the year with 222 families giving compared to 211 families giving the prior year.
3. 2019 continued our 7-year decline in average worship attendance since 2013. We had 242 average worship attendance in 2019. This was a decline of one person from our 2018 average worship attendance of 243. 
4. The elders have approved a conservative budget for 2020 that absorbs increased costs but does not offer raises and makes some cuts to ministry spending. This is because (i) although the operating budget brought in a healthy surplus last year, (ii) pledges have come in softer for this coming year, and (iii) on a consolidated basis we ran a $95 thousand deficit in 2019. The deficit funded our HVAC repairs and was (impressively) paid out of our savings. 
5. Our mortgage stands at just under $4 million.
6. To read more about our year, check out the annual report here: 2019 ANNUAL REPORT LINK.

1. At the annual congregational meeting on January 26th at 9:45 in the Sanctuary we will conduct our regular business of electing officers and approving the pastor's terms of call. There will also be a bylaw change for your vote.
2. The session has recommended that the bylaws of the congregation be changed to reduce the size of the Session from 14 (2 pastors + 12 elders) down to 8 (2 pastors + 6 elders) and the board of trustees from 12 trustees down to 9 trustees.
3. To ensure a fair balance of power on this smaller Session, the quorum will require (i) that a minimum of 5 elders be present and (ii) that 3 elders must vote in favor of a motion for the motion to pass. 
4. To read more about the research behind this proposal please read the full report from the session, including an FAQ here: BYLAW CHANGE INFORMATIONAL PACKET 
5. here is the simple version of "why" we propose this change: 

• Fifteen years ago, in 2005, Covenant launched a courageous building campaign with a vision of reaching more families for Christ.  
• Our congregation is hard-working, generous and loving. Our staff is dedicated and talented. The Holy Spirit is in charge of growth, but we are ready for the Spirit’s leading with our people, our staff, our budget and our building.
• Huntsville is now poised to grow rapidly over the next 3 years. This will strain all of the metro area’s infrastructure, including churches. Our church is needed. This may be Covenant’s best opportunity to be faithful to our vision of reaching more people for Christ. For more on this read here: NEWS ARTICLE ON HSV GROWTH.
• In February 2019, the current elders began diligently researching best practices from other churches on how to better align Covenant to welcome newcomers. The elders have participated in online classes with consultants, read books and articles, studied our data and engaged in hours of discussion & prayer
• This period of study revealed that we are doing 3 out of the 5 best practices for churches who desire revival. We are missing two best practices that are surprising and counterintuitive: (i) we need to streamline our key governing boards, and (ii) we need a new long-term strategic planning process.
• To summarize: We don’t have a money problem or a people problem. We have an organizational problem. A smaller number of elders will be better able to discuss and pray about complex decisions. A more coordinated long-term plan is needed to align our powerful relationships and resources towards a unified purpose.  
• Therefore, the session recommends addressing these two "missing" best practices by (i) reducing the size of the Session of Elders and the Board of Trustees, placing them in closer cooperation, and (ii) tasking the Session with our long-term strategic planning process. 

• at 9:45 in Room 103 (LIFE Sunday School) and
• at Noon in the Chapel.
• I will have office hours at Noon on Thursday January 23rd.