The Good Shepherd Council invited all members of the congregation to attend an informational meeting on Sunday, December 10th to provide an update on the previously announced sale of a portion of the property and a status of the church’s financials. The following message is a summary of the content of that meeting.
Council President, Carrie Pugliano, welcomed everyone to the meeting and reviewed the following points.
Update on the Sale of a Parcel of the Property
- In November 2022, the Council came to the congregation to seek approval to sell a parcel of the church property totaling .88 acres to the north end.
- The contract for intent to sell the property was signed between Good Shepherd and the buyer in February 2023 and the buyer’s due diligence process began and was intended to last until early June 2023. (120 days).
- The buyer requested and was granted two additional 60-day extensions to complete the necessary due diligence and obtain necessary approvals from Monroeville Planning Commission and the Monroeville Council. A final extension was then requested and an additional 90-day extension was approved.
- All approvals from the municipality of Monroeville were received during November 2023 which was the last hurdle needed before obtaining necessary signatures and setting a closing date.
- Currently we are awaiting final signatures on the property documents from the buyer, the Monroeville Mayor and the Monroeville Council President. We are also seeking a date to schedule the closing with the buyer. It is believed that a closing must be concluded before the end of January 2024.
- The Good Shepherd Council has identified an Investment Committee to investigate options for ensuring that the funds received from the sale can be put to the most optimal use for our ministry and our future.
Financial Position of the Good Shepherd
Carrie updated the congregation on the current state of the church’s financials.
- Cash position – At the end of November 2023, there was approximately $16,000 remaining in the bank. That represented all the funds remaining in the church’s accounts.
- In the event that the aforementioned property deal doesn’t close by the end of December, the church would be out of cash with insufficient funds to cover normal operational expenses.
- A few members of the congregation have offered zero-interest loans to bridge the financial gap until the property deal closes. We have agreed to accept two of those interest-free loans for $10,000 each. These loans will be paid back as soon as the property deal closes and the sales money is received.
Question: How long will the money from this property sale last?
Carrie stated that the intent was to invest a large portion of the proceeds to provide an endowment for the longer-term stability of the church. Given that, and assuming the same rate of giving and expenses as today, the proceeds of the sale would last approximately 4 years. It is important to note, however, some of the proceeds would need to go to necessary repairs in the current church building which will shorten that time frame.
A few other points on near-term cash – We are receiving lease revenue from both Golden Triangle and C.A.R.E.S.
- Golden Triangle is leasing the property they are currently utilizing for the Route 22 construction project.
- C.A.R.E.S. is still renting space here in the main church building to work with individuals with physical and mental difficulties. The work they do here supports their own growth and development as well as to do good for the community.
The 2024 Budget proposal will be presented at the Annual Congregation Meeting to be held on January 28, 2024.
Question: Would it be wise to ask people to consider their 2024 donations to the church and to do what they can to move them forward in the year to help the cash situation especially in January and February.
Carrie responded that it would be very good if people could manage to do that.
Other Property-related Information
Carrie updated the congregation on the state of the other church property listings form the Centennial Plan.
- No other offers have been received for the remaining portions of the property that were listed as available and for sale.
- There have been other offers, however, for the property including the land on which the church sits. The Council is beginning to seriously look at those opportunities for the long-term viability of the congregation.
- We have nothing definitive at this point but options that would be considered would include building a new church, or buying or renting an existing building. The proceeds from the sale that is currently being finalized will give the breathing room needed to consider all of those options.
Question: Is it still an option to merge with another church?
Carrie answered, yes, that would also be an option and on the list of things will need to be evaluated.
Future communications to the congregation
Carrie thanked the congregation for their patience and understanding as we continue to bring this property deal to closure. She committed on behalf of the Council that there will be more regular updates to the congregation on the status of activities affecting the church and the property. The Council is committed to communications with the congregation at least every 6 months. She said that we won’t wait until 6 months if there is information to share. For example, once we have a closing date with the current buyer for the north parcel, we will communicate as soon as is practical.
Question: How we are progressing on getting new members into the church?
Carrie led the response by commenting on the current experience of declining membership within most churches in our area -highlighting the consolidation of local parishes within the Catholic Church.
Pastor Bob addressed the question by sharing some interesting statistics found in a recent survey regarding what churchgoers have indicated was the main reason they selected a particular church. The largest response by a significant amount was “being invited by a relative or friend”. Over 70% of the respondents indicated that was their reasoning for choosing a church. The most common reasons that come to mind like, “Sunday School”, “needed something from the church”, “liked the pastor” or “just walked in” had ratings of 8% or less. Pastor encouraged the congregation to recognize the role that each of us play in growing the congregation.
Question: Can you share information on current trends in attendance here at the church?
Pastor Bob explained that unlike most churches in our denomination and in our area, our weekly worship attendance has actually been growing since 2021 by a rate of 10-20%/year. That translates to about 5-6 people per year and while that is very modest growth, it’s a major shift in our trend. Prior to 2021, we had been declining about 12 people per year since 2005. Not only have we staved off the decline but we’re actually growing. And this is not happening in other churches. So, something good has been happening in our congregation and we want to see it continue.
Question: How many are attending on You Tube?
Pastor Bob responded that the You Tube attendance has remained fairly steady of late with anywhere from 5-15 households connecting. This is a conservative count as it only counts those who are watching live as opposed to those who may watch later at another time. The on-line attendance has been favorable but does not account for the overall upward trend.
As there were no other questions, Carrie closed the meeting with a few reminders:
- Please continue to give – It is very important that people still give to the church. The pending property deal closing will be great for the financial situation but should not replace the ongoing giving of our members. The proceeds will go quickly if we continue to carry heavy deficits between giving and expenses.
- Financial Reports along with reports from Council and Committees are available for anyone to pick up on the rack in the hallway by the office. Information re: the Council meetings and financials are updated monthly.
- The Annual Congregation Meeting would be held on Sunday, January 28, 2024.
The meeting adjourned.