Dear Friends:
The meeting of February 7th, 2023, opened in prayer by Rev. Elder Carolyn Mobley-Bowie. We checked-in with each other at the beginning of the meeting as a touch point about how each of us is doing. This month we used the Microsoft translator app, which allowed each of our Governors to give updates in their native language. This is just one example of the Governing Board embracing the global nature of MCC with our colleagues around the world.
Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston shared her End of Year Moderator’s report. The past year has been an exciting and memorable one for all of us. Huge thank you to our Moderator for your ongoing prayers, love, patience, and care. Click on this link to read Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston’s entire report.
The Governing Board approved our goals for 2023 based on the Five Strategic Aims (Spirituality, Presence, Diversity, Leadership and Resources) and the 2030 Strategic Vision Statement.
Our financial position at the end of 2022 ended solid. As of December 31, 100% through the year, we are at 114.76% of budgeted yearly income and 98.55% of budgeted expenses. We are 14.76% over budget in income and 1.45% under budget in expenses. What a blessed way to end the year! Thank you to all our donors and churches for making this a reality. Also, thank you to our amazing Treasurer, Chad Hobbs and our denominational Finance Committee. For more information on finances, see the financial snapshot and other financial information here.
The Governing Board approved the recommendation from the Finance Committee to delegate the authority to the Senior Leadership Team to determine how special offerings are allocated (Easter, Fellowship Sunday, and End-of-Year).
We were blessed to have Kirk Blandford who is MCC’s Team Lead for Operational Development and is also Certified Public Accountant, at our Governing Board meeting. He gave us an overview of financials with a focus on assessments that congregations faithfully give to the denomination. We took a closer look at the assessment revenue trend for the last ten years and a deeper dive in our revenue sources for the last six years. The Governing Board is grateful to those churches that faithfully give and will work with Kirk and other staff to support congregations that are struggling.
Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow, Co-chair of the Commission on Pathways of Healing and Reconciliation, presented the Commission on Pathways of Healing and Reconciliation final report. The Governing Board will have indepth conversations on the final report and its recommendations at our March meeting.
As we move forward together through Lent, we invite you to feel all your feelings, dig into the story of Jesus’ life and death, and find small, meaningful ways to honor the season. Lent is not about achieving or doing but about resting in the God who calls us and walks with us through life, death and beyond.
Wherever you find yourself this Lent, know you’re not alone. We’ll go through it together.
Respectfully Submitted:
Mark Godette, Clerk, on behalf of the Governing Board
Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston, Moderator
Rev. Alberto Najera, Vice Chair
Chad Hobbs, Treasurer
Rev. Marie Alford-Harkey
James Chavis
Rev. Beulah Durrheim
Rev. Joseph San Jose
Léo Rossetti
