The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica

Featured Articles - October, 2003

Substantial Bequest Received by Church

Earl Morgan, a longtime friend of our church who died August 31, named the church the beneficiary of his retirement accounts, amounting to almost $500,000. The Board of Directors has asked the Finance Committee for recommendations concerning the ongoing investment of this bequest, and the allocation of the money among our depleted reserves, the new
building fund, and other possible alternatives.

Trained as an architect, Earl enjoyed hands-on building projects. He helped out at church work parties
and enjoyed Camp de Benneville Pines retreats. Although he had no immediate family, Earl had friends
from his many diverse interests, including the Hawthorne American Legion, El Camino College, and
sailing. He was especially close to former members of our church Bill and Ginna Baker MacDonald, and their
children. He lived in Inglewood and died at the Daniel Freeman Hospital there. He was 47.

The Rev. Judith Meyer said, “I was saddened to learn of Earl’s untimely death, but very moved to learn that the church meant so much to him.” President Carol Kerr said: “I look to the Finance Committee and the Board to find a way to honor Earl Morgan by allowing his gift to make a lasting contribution to our future.”

— Paula Bernstein

Despite Wonderful News, the Puzzlement Continues

Last month, I observed that we are heading into our third deficit year in a row. I bemoaned the fact that we have a vital church community with excellent programs and services, but not quite enough income to pay for it.

With the stunning news of Earl Morgan’s bequest, you may think that problem has suddenly gone away. Not true. The primary thing the bequest will do for us is to assure that we can complete both parts of our building program (previously,
with a projected cost of a little over $1.5 million and capital pledges in hand of slightly over $1.0 million, that was not assured). But use of any non-continuing source to cover ongoing operating expenses is a sure path to disaster, when the source runs out and we suddenly have no way to pay our bills.

The bequest is indeed wonderful news and will let us do wonderful things, but the necessity to pay our ongoing expenses out of current income is undiminished. We still have the same puzzlement: How to get our pledge income up to a level that will support the operations the congregation wants.

--Warren Mathews, for the Finance Committee

Stewardship Story: “What it Takes”

A place to call home – where I can daily become the person I want to be, develop my spiritual life, create values-based relationships that enrich me and my family and make me feel like I live in a community rather than a sprawling metropolis – these are my personal aspirations as they relate to my church community.

Beyond the spiritual, though, is the practical: the fact that in order to have this place called home, I am called to make a number of commitments. One is to attend Sunday services, another is a volunteer commitment, third is a
financial contribution.

In the time since I’ve joined this church (a mere two years) we’ve not been very clear about what it takes, beyond worship, to make our church tick. That is changing. You’ve seen more communication in a variety of areas from member interest surveys to new “Getting Involved” brochures. You’ve even received a program booklet with a letter from Judith articulating
our collective hopes for the congregation. Now we’re in pledge season and it’s time to think about money.

You and your neighbors in the pews on Sunday will contribute nearly 80% of UUCCSM’s operating budget this
year through annual pledges. We’ve never asked for a specific amount – though it does take about $100 a month per member to keep the doors open – and there’s always been an assumption that regardless of anyone’s individual pledge, we’ll somehow pay the bills.

It’s time now to rethink the way each of us pledges support to the church.

This year, we decided to adopt the UUA’s fair share giving guidelines and distribute them widely to all members
of our community. The idea is that each of us can make a meaningful financial commitment to the church (in addition
to our commitments to worship and to volunteer our time), and that the amount should be based on a graduated
percentage of our income. If you haven’t received the new guidelines with your pledge card yet, you will shortly;
and just as we held stewardship meetings after services in June, we’ll hold them again in October to answer your
questions.

Consider the implications if we each were Fair Share contributors: think about the support for our vital community
and the hopes and dreams (articulated in this year’s pledge/program booklet) that could be realized.

— In faith,
Jacki K. Weber

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