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First Quarter Financial Update
2026-11-3 | Pastor Kurt Kincanon
This past Sunday, we held our fall Congregational meeting where I gave my customary financial update to the congregation. Since our previous Congregational Meeting in May 2026, it has been a full and productive summer and fall as we continue strengthening our mission and ministry through our Touchstones of Welcome, Transformation, and Presence. In my role as Administrative Pastor, I have had the privilege of working closely with both lay and staff leadership across all three initiatives, helping advance the congregation's shared vision and ministry goals.
Stewarding Our Financial Resources
One of the most important responsibilities of church leadership is the faithful stewardship of our financial resources. At the May
Congregational Meeting, the congregation approved the FY 2026-27 operating budget, authorizing expenditures of $968,500. Following that approval, Bookkeeper Kelli Hodgson and I developed the detailed cash flow budget that guides our spending throughout the year. As part of our ongoing financial oversight, I continue to provide monthly Chief Financial Officer (CFO) reports
to Church Council, which serves as the congregation's governing body between Congregational Meetings.
Also in May, I presented our FY 2026-27 budget using the Narrative Budget format. This approach highlights how our financial
resources support ministry across five key areas of Spiritual Formation, Worship, Local Impact, Care Ministries, and Global Impact. Here is a graph of our current Narrative Budget:
By organizing the budget around ministry rather than expenses alone, we are able to see more clearly how each dollar supports our
mission and calling.
Looking Back: Fiscal Year 2025-26 Results
We are pleased to report that fiscal year 2025-26 concluded in a balanced position. For the year ending June 30, 2026, total receipts were $923,161.70, while total expenses were also $923,161.70, resulting in a break-even operating outcome.
Included in those expenses was a year-end adjustment of $5,084.74 for capital improvements. Despite this additional expense, careful stewardship throughout the year enabled us to finish the fiscal year on solid financial footing.
Looking Ahead: First Quarter FY 2026-27
As we began the new fiscal year on July 1, we have experienced some financial challenges during the first quarter. Giving for the
quarter totaled $193,279, while expenses reached $234,715, resulting in an operating deficit of approximately $41,000.
This deficit is about $35,000 greater than the loss anticipated in the budget for the quarter. Giving has reached approximately
80% of the planned amount and is more than $19,500 lower than the same period in the previous fiscal year. Encouragingly, expenses remain approximately 6% below budget, largely due to intentional expense management and labor savings.
While the first quarter results highlight areas of concern, they also demonstrate the benefits of continued fiscal discipline. Church
leadership will continue to monitor both giving trends and expenditures closely as we move through the year.
Thank you for your continued generosity, commitment, and partnership in ministry. Your faithful support enables us to pursue the work God has called us to do, both within our congregation and throughout our community and world. Together, we remain focused on living out our mission through welcome, transformation, and presence. If you missed the recent financial update given in the worship service by Council Chair Audette Taylor, you can view it here: