A Really Difficult First...

The Church at Argyle just had a first- but one we can't be very proud of. For the first time in 25 years, we had to cut staff.

For some time we have been reporting that our giving was not meeting our budget needs. For the 2008 financial year, the giving shortfall was about $95,000. This shortfall was handled by cutting ministry budgets, avoiding making expenditures when possible, moving some projects off-budget through special offerings and directed giving, allocating reserves, and cutting out all possible discretionary spending. But, we have exhausted that means of staying afloat. There is nothing discretionary left to cut, and no ministry budget that can be further cut without fully deleting a ministry.

The only two places left within our control to cut (we can't NOT pay the utility bills, the insurance premiums, or the mortgage) are Missions Giving and Salaries.

Missions include our support of the Cooperative Giving Program of the Southern Baptist Convention. The CGP supports overseas and North American missionary efforts, domestic disaster relief, the general work of the Convention, and five Southern Baptist seminaries. We also give to support the Jacksonville Baptist Association which is invaluable in assisting the work of our local churches, including Argyle. We believe strongly that we cannot ask our members to give when we, as a church, are not cheerfully giving to support our own local, national and international efforts. In addition, we give small amounts to several other worthwhile charities and parachurch organizations.

By deciding to not touch Missions Giving, that leaves only Salaries to cut. Pastor Ken has prayed and deliberated for some time over whether this step would be neccessary, and if it was what shape it would take. After meeting recently with the Stewardship Committee, the Deacons and the Corporate Directors, we made the decision to furlough our Ministry Assistant Liz Eddy and our Facilities Custodian Stan Stufflebeam, effective February 15.

Both Stan and Liz have been and are invaluable members of our team. Their absence is going to leave a big hole that the other members of the Staff are going to have to work to fill, hopefully with the help of volunteers. This decision has nothing to do with their job performance, but with our inability to sustain our payroll with the current levels of giving. When God blesses us with an improvement in our giving, we will be quick to bring them back to the staff.

Hal Hunter
Administrator