PCC

Budgeting at PCC

by Dr. Brian C. Hughes

Senior Pastor

When PCC first began, there was no track record, no history at all. Therefore, there was no way of knowing – or even guessing – how much money might come in each week. From September, 2002 through December 2002, the Steering Team met with Brian (who was the only staff member at that time) to approve the outflow of monies that had come in since the prior meeting. As you can imagine, this was an inefficient system. However, as I already mentioned, there was little choice.

By the time 2002 came to a close, there was at least some measure of how many people were coming to PCC and what giving was like. A budget for 2003 was designed and approved. Since then, the budget process has evolved to allow for our changing situations. What I intend to do here is to give you some information about our current process of budget creation, approval, and procedures for mid-year budget adjustments.

Every ministry in our church is supported by someone on our staff. This doesn’t mean that the staff do all of the ministry (not even close). It does mean that each ministry team leader has a staff member whose job it is to coach, encourage, and support them in their leadership. In August of each year, staff members begin to compile budget requests and needs from ministry team leaders. With much prayer, we try to assess the effectiveness of each ministry and program, determine if changes are needed, and discern the direction in which God is leading us. On a date set by Dennis Green, our Executive Pastor, the staff turns in their budget requests. Dennis asks questions that results in further adjustments and then creates one unified budget proposal, which he gives to me. I ask more questions and more adjustments are made. The proposal then goes through a review process that includes the Finance Team and Steering Team – more questions are asked, more adjustments are made and, then, it finally gets mailed to the membership of the church for their consideration at the annual members agenda forum and annual membership meeting, at which time the final budget is approved.

This may sound like a long, bureaucratic and inefficient process, but it ensures several things. First, it is thorough. By taking a good bit of time, we have time to pray, study, and think through each ministry and each financial commitment. Second, it ensures good checks and balances. These multiple layers make it so that authority is spread out and that there is broad support. Finally, it provides for a good bit of feedback and dialogue between ministry team leaders, staff members, the Executive and Senior Pastors, the Steering Team and the membership. The process may be long, but it is intentionally so in order that we have a chance to refine and revise at each step.

Of all the things we’ve developed, this is one of the most effective processes in our church. If you have questions about our budget or the budgeting process, I invite you to contact our church office and ask to speak to Dennis Green or Chauncey Starkey, our church Administrator.