Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, N.Y., saves money in tough economic times by doing its own yard work. That means even Jennifer Boyd, pastor, pitches in. With her are property committee mem- bers Michael Boyd (left) and Don Icken.
aren’t going to solve it,” he said. “It’s like moving the chairs on the Titanic.” To help with its mounting finan- cial circumstances, Trinity Lutheran Church, White Plains, N.Y., recently cut its pastor’s salary by one-third. Paying a roof loan, repairing water damage and the recent loss of a revenue-producing building-use program created a $40,000 budget shortfall, said Norman D. White, pastor. The congregation decided it had to cut White’s time. “The first thing a church does is cut the pastor’s salary or hours in some way, or slashes mission sup- port,” Duran said. “We tend to think that if we can just get some money in, then everything will be all right.” But money won’t make things right for the long term, Duran said. Reconnecting to the community will. It all boils down to mission and vision, he said. It’s easy to be the church when times are good, but bad times test a church’s mission. Boyd and Trinity’s church council
came up with a solution to cut minor expenses. The church discontinued its weekly lawn service, stopped purchasing worship bulletin covers,
24 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
and cut both the number of hours and hourly wage for an office assistant. They also refinanced the mortgage, reduced synod mission support and asked members to increase giving. “Stop-gap solutions like these— and there are many—aren’t long- term answers,” Duran said. “They only buy time.”
Boyd readily admits that Trinity may face more cuts early next year if finances don’t improve. In a poor economy, the church’s mission becomes more imperative. “What’s happening is a compound- ing of things,” Duran said. “The issue is not the result of tough eco- nomic times alone. It’s an issue of the church as a whole. The Lutheran church is growing disconnected from
its community and society, and tough times only compound problems.”
Selling church buildings Selling off churches is another quick solution to budget woes, Duran said. Salam Arabic Lutheran Church was a shining ELCA success story in an emerging Brooklyn, N.Y., com- munity. More than a decade ago, the once Danish Lutheran church called Salem redefined itself to reflect it’s evolving Arabic neighborhood and changed its name to Salam. It rep- resented the changing face of the ELCA—a diverse and relevant con- gregation serving its neighborhood. But over the years, with several
members losing jobs and New York’s declining economy, the church fell
AMY C. ELLIOTT
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