Season of giving makes, breaks church budgets

December will be a tell-tale month for many churches as they draft their 2009 budgets and anxiously await gifts from donors amassing tax deductions before the year's end.

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is bracing for the year ahead by freezing pastors' salaries and hiring.

"Times are tough," said the Rev. J. Ronzell Maness, the presiding elder of the Augusta-Thomson District of the CME church.

"We just finished our stewardship reporting for the year. Many of our churches are struggling," he said. "Their giving is 10 to 15, as much as 30 percent off projection."

His district includes 27 local churches. Statewide, Georgia's 400 CME churches have finished the year, on average, 35 percent in the hole.

Still, he says, most churches are choosing to budget 2009 on par with 2008.

"I really think that hope is still alive," he said. "They are hoping things will turn around."

Georgia Baptists will enter the new year having shaved 5 percent off their $52 million budget, spokesman Eddie Oliver said. During the past 10 years, churches have given a smaller percent of their budget to support the convention.

"People look at their individual budgets and decide whether they should eat or make tithe," Mr. Oliver said. "You have to make choices. We hope people are faithful to their tithes and give because we believe God will bless them for it, but we realized that may not be a realistic choice for everybody."

Jack Coley, the finance committee chairman at Curtis Baptist Church, said cutbacks are necessary.

In the new year, he says, "We'll buy less equipment; we'll do less travel and make fewer contributions."

While Curtis Baptist has decided to act cautiously, others say they're hopeful donations will begin pouring in.

Church members have kept their commitment to tithe at Stevens Creek Church, which expects to end the year with a surplus, said the Rev. Marty Baker. The church expects to take in $2.5 million by year's end. It had budgeted $1.9 million.

"We make it easy for people to donate to something they believe in," he said.

The church made national news when it installed giving kiosks in the lobby. One automated machine brought in $40,000 last month, despite the bad news on Wall Street.

"We've learned that if we can somehow remove the barriers, people will want to give," the Rev. Baker said.

He has sent a letter to parishioners reminding them that depreciated stocks can be given to the church and then claimed for a tax credit at the original purchase price.

In an average year, 15 to 20 percent of the year's gifts are collected in the weeks leading up to New Year's.

"We're similar to a retail establishment," the Rev. Baker said.

The church has budgeted $2.03 million for 2009 and will use its surplus to strengthen reserves and furnish a new facility.

Church of the Most Holy Trinity doesn't draft its next budget until June, but based on its earnings halfway through December, the church is on track for a balanced budget, said parochial vicar Mike Lubinsky.

The church will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2010 and plans to kick off a fundraising campaign in 2009.

"We've got some fears about the economy. There is some caution and concern about the 2009 budget, but as it says in the scriptures, we go by faith," the Rev. Lubinksy said. "We're really counting on the generosity of our parish each day, each week, each year."

Staff at the Christian radio station WAJF-FM (88.3) are also hopeful for the year ahead, budgeting a 6 percent increase for 2009. Though its budget is growing at a time when many others are cutting back, the station says the increase is less than usual; the budget normally climbs 10 percent annually.

"We're praying we can meet a modest increase," said Johanna Antes, the station's director of support.

So far, WAFJ is on target for 2008, with $58,000 to raise before year's end.

"Considering the economy, the station is doing well. We've been very blessed," Mrs. Antes said. "It's amazing how even in a bad economy the ministry always seems to expand, but that's how God does math. It's his multiplication."

Reach Kelly Jasper at (706) 823-3552 or <a href="mailto:kelly.jasper@augustachronicle.com">kelly.jasper@augustachronicle.com</a>.