Provided by Christi Harlan, Church Clerk
The congregation met after the potluck lunch Sunday, Sept. 10, to hear updates on First Baptist’s missional endeavors, finances, capital campaign, construction project and the timeline for meeting with consultants from Ministry Architects.
Mission Actions
On behalf of Mission Team Chair Linda Salmon, Pastor Julie reported that the summer was bookended by two successful church-wide efforts to feed the hungry:
the Rise Against Hunger event June 11 (10,000 meals packed in under two hours)
·the Stuff the Truck event Aug. 11, in partnership with local CBS affiliate station WUSA9 to fill the food pantry at Charlie’s Place (more than 3,000 lbs. of food collected and $750 in cash donations). FBC’s Erin Spaht initiated this opportunity. Thanks, Erin!
The next community service event is a blood drive Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Fellowship Hall, in partnership with the American Red Cross. First Baptist has committed to providing 20 donors.
Finances
On behalf of Treasurer Mike Henson, Pastor Eric Mathis presented a summary of the church’s income and expenses for the church’s 2022-2023 fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2023:
Income from the Ground Lease at the Drake was on target at $1,185,136, a 3% increase from FY 2021-2022.
Income from space use tripled the budgeted amount of $12,000 for a total of $39,318.
Contributions totaled $316,207. This was 6.2% below the budgeted $337,000, and 11% less than the FY 2021-22 total ($354,970). The decline in contributions was the result of members who moved or passed away in 2022.
Special purpose funds were not used for ministry-related costs.
At the close of FY 2022-23, church expenditures totaled $1,554,924, which was $14,263 above the $1,540,661in income for the year.
Capital Campaign
Give It Forward campaign Co-Chair Lucy Plovnick reported on the campaign to raise $1 million for the construction of new community space, offices and a welcome center on the former site of the Education Building. Pledges and gifts to date have put the campaign within $400,000 of the goal. About $300,000 of the $479,500 pledged has been contributed.
Facilities
On behalf of Building Project Administrator Sarah Hodges-Austin, Pastor Eric provided an update on the construction:
DC Water replaced the sewer pipe, that caused back-ups into the boiler room, at no cost to the church.
Construction is progressing but delayed, and anticipated completion of new building is early summer 2024.
Ministry Architects
Pastor Eric provided an overview of the dates for the consultants from Ministry Architects to be at First Baptist: meetings with members and staff Sept. 22-25; kick-start and systems audit Nov. 4 and 5; a vision summit Jan. 27-28, 2024, and an impact summit April 13-14, 2024.
Action Item--Sale of Property
In the sole action item, the congregation approved a recommendation from the trustees to sell a small plot of land in far northern Virginia, that had been donated to the church decades ago. The agreed-upon sales price is $2,000—equal to the appraised value of the undeveloped lot.