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Live into Hope Staffing Campaign
Questions and Answers
Session authorizes campaign
What are the staffing needs at MPC?
What should the staff look like for a church our size?
How does our staff compare to other churches?
How will the money given to this campaign be used?
Is the two year pledge in addition to what I am currently giving?
What happens if we do not receive the full campain target of $250,000?
When will my commitment begin, and when must my pledge be completed?
When will staff additions and developments begin?
What kind of staff developments or training programs do we have in place to help our staff grow?
How will the new positions be funded after August 31, 2009?
Are we going to replace the current part-time staff with new personnel?
How will the gifts received for this campaign be kept separate from the operating budget?
Session authorizes campaign
The Session has authorized the Stewardship and Finance Ministry to conduct a special offering campaign to enhance the staff at Massanutten Presbyterian Church. The goal for this campaign is to raise $250,000.
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What are the staffing needs at MPC?
Using the staffing study received by the Session in 2006 the following needs have been identified: Director of Christian Education, Finance and Membership Secretary, and a fill-time Director of Music.
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What should the staff look like for a church our size?
The generally accepted rule of thumb for staffing is to add one full-time program staff member for every 100 in average worship attendance. Our current average for 2007 is 348, which means that we need the equivalent of 3.5 full-time program staff to simply maintain our current numbers. If we wish to grow, we should staff above that number. This number does not include the pastor, secretarial staff, or basic music services. Obviously, we are staffed well below our needed level. Simply put, we will not be able to sustain our current level of programming without additional staff.
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How does our staff compare to other churches?
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How will the money given to this campaign be used?
All money received by the church for the Live into Hope staffing campaign will be used exclusively for the purpose of ensuring that MPC is adequately staffed with fairly compensated and highly trained staff members. In addition to providing the financial resources to add the needed positions, funds from this campaign will also enable current and future staff to receive the training and resources they need to function at the highest level possible.
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Is the two year pledge in addition to what I am currently giving?
Yes, The current operating budget, which encompasses all that we do to fulfill the large mission to which God has called us, will require generous giving from all members of MPC. We encourage you to give faithfully and well to the annual program budget. At the same time, we invite you to give generously and sacrificially for a two-year campaign so that we can Live into Hope at this critical time in our congregation's ministry. Many have found that they are able to offer a generous gift to a special campaign by giving from accumulated assets.
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What happens if we do not receive the full campain target of $250,000?
Obviously, it is our hope and expectation that we will fully fund the entire campaign amount. In the unlikely event that we do not receive the full amount, there is a possibility that lower priority staffing needs will not be met.
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When will my commitment begin, and when must my pledge be completed?
The Live into Hope staffing campaign will begin September 1, 2007, and all gifts should be given by August 31, 2009. Your pledge will be for two years but may be fulfilled at any point prior to August 31, 2009.
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When will staff additions and developments begin?
While a specific date cannot be given, search for additional staff (in priority order) will begin as soon as cash in hand and outstanding pledges warrant. We will begin as soon as feasible, but certainly before the end of the two-year campaign.
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What kind of staff developments or training programs do we have in place to help our staff grow?
Our pastoral staff has a generous allowance for continuing education and they participate in workshops and seminars designed to strengthen their skills in specific areas. The same is true for our music staff. Over the years, we have failed to provide the resources needed for our office staff to grow in their use of available software porgrams and other technology. Resources given to this staffing campaign will enable our whole staff to continue to develop and maintain the skills necessary for service in the church today.
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How will the new positions be funded after August 31, 2009?
We believe that all staff positions added through the Live into Hope campaign will be supported by the annual program budget. This will be accomplished by our continued growth in giving and through the addition of new members (which will be increased when adequate staff is in place).
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Are we going to replace the current part-time staff with new personnel?
While there are no plans at present to replace current staff, future staffing designs may require revisions of current position descriptions to complement additional staff. While there is always a measure of uncertainty when revising staffing designs, every effort will be made to retain current part-time staff.
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How will the gifts received for this campaign be kept separate from the operating budget?
All contributions to the Live into Hope campaign wil lbe kept in a separate bank account and will be reported as such on financial statements.
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