1 2 Welcome Opening Prayer Introductions and video

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2 • Welcome • Opening Prayer • Introductions and video Funding a new model of church 2

3 Five principles behind the remit (1) use Mission & Service to fund mission and ministry activities (2) fund governance and support services of other courts/councils by assessing communities of faith/pastoral charges (3) share assessments equitably across the whole church (4) permit Conferences/presbyteries/regional councils to use additional resources for regional purposes (5) encourage sharing of all resources across the church Funding a new model of church 3

4 Fundamental changes in remit 4 • • • Replaces our current assessment, this would not add on top of it Assessment would fund governance and support services across the church Churches provide a proportionate share The size and scope of denominational governance and support services would be directly linked to finances of congregations Voluntary Mission & Service givings would be focused on mission and ministry Funding a new model of church 4

5 So why make this change? Current funding model Existing assessments fund: • Close to 100% of presbytery budgets (some have investment income) • 10% to 60% of Conference budgets • ZERO % of denominational budget Mission & Service funds: • Six program areas: direct grants and program costs, including staff and support services • 10 -95% of Conference operating costs Funding a new model of church 5

6 So why make this change? Proposed funding model Proposed assessments fund: Governance and support services at regional and denominational levels Mission & Service funds: Mission and ministry at regional and denominational levels including direct grants and program costs Funding a new model of church 6

7 So why make this change? • The assessment is fair and transparent • A more sustainable and compelling model for both (1) denominational governance and support services and (2) mission and ministry • Maintain existing levels of global and Canadian granting AND potentially increase it • Make funding the work of the church more understandable and compelling to future generations Funding a new model of church 7

A new way to slice the Mission & Service pie • There would be a clear line drawn between funds used for (a) governance and support services and (b) mission and ministry • Potential for increasing Mission & Service giving which funds mission and ministry Funding a new model of church 8 8

More reasons for making this change To date Mission & Service funds are allocated to programming, but as other revenue sources decline, these funds will increasingly be called on to fund governance and support services also. If Mission & Service funds are called upon in the future to fund governance and support services, these services will not be carried evenly across the church. (Currently 42% of resident members who give to their local church also give for Mission & Service. ) Funding a new model of church 9 9

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11 So why an assessment based on revenue? • • A fair and transparent model based on revenue Supports “ability to pay” with a transition plan Consistent with other denominations Recognizes how funding churches and giving patterns have changed since 1925 Funding a new model of church 11

12 Assessment calculation using the Blue Form Funding a new model of church 12

13 Both a target and a cap Funding a new model of church 13

14 Will this change affect my pastoral charge? • Your congregation’s assessment could go down … or up • While many congregations will see increases, all congregations will more equitably fund the broader church Funding a new model of church 14

Examples of assessment’s impact Net revenue Old assessment Forest Hill United (Toronto) $200, 000 $6, 200 Tatamagouche PC (N. S. ) $108, 858 Long Lake PC (Sask. ) $69, 613 TARGET new $9, 000 $3, 200 $4, 898 $4, 343 $ 3, 133 Funding a new model of church 15 15

• • 16 If remit 4 passes, what’s next? Three-year phase-in approach is available Increase will be limited to a 10% increase over previous year’s total assessments, then frozen for two years All increases can be implemented at once 4. 5% is both a cap and aspirational Funding a new model of church 16

If remit 4 does NOT pass, 17 what’s next? • • • Depends on other remits too, but cost reduction will continue Greater call on Mission & Service to fund denominational governance and support services Potentially less capacity to fund new mission and ministry initiatives Funding a new model of church 17

A reminder of the principles behind the remit (1) use Mission & Service to fund mission and ministry (2) fund governance and support services of other courts/councils by assessing communities of faith/pastoral charges (3) share assessments equitably across the whole church (4) permit Conferences/presbyteries/regional councils to use additional resources for regional purposes (5) encourage sharing of all resources across the church Funding a new model of church 18 18

Still have questions? Email: remits@united-church. ca Funding a new model of church 19 19