Dear Family of Faith,

Greetings in Christ and with his peace!

  On Sunday, September 22, 2024, during our Adult Faith Formation time following the worship service, we had a financial update from our Council. It was not good news. In fact, it should not have come as a surprise to anyone, as the constant message that the budget has been running on a deficit for over two years, with a slow “bleed” of $3300-$3500 per month, has been shared at every update and congregational meeting. This is not new news. However, as Council President Jeff Mach said on Sunday, “we’ve kicked the can down the road long enough, and we’ve hit the end.”

  Over the last couple of years, there has been a lot of conversation, but not a lot of decisions made. It is that simple.

  In January 2023 I started the Dream Team to look seriously at who we are as a faith community in serving our neighbor’s needs. This amazing team went out into the Mukilteo community and held multiple meetings for conversations and listening on what Pointe of Grace could be to the larger community. We contracted with Rick Rouse and he led further discernment. All this information was collected and shared with the Council and congregation in an effort to refocus, renew, and redirect us towards making decisions in the next steps forward.

  A year ago, I (along with Ron Evans and Coe Hutchison) met with the City of Mukilteo to discuss the viability of dividing off the back part of the parking lot and selling it. The City was overly accessible and gave us all the information to move forward with such a project and were positive in supporting such a division of the property to gain more housing in the neighborhood. This was shared with Council. The write up summarizing this meeting is in the Congregational Update google drive. I had conversation with the synod office and received the information needed to start that process to sub-divide and shared that with council president. No decision or actions were taken at that time.

  In November of 2023, the Council contracted with Gunderson Consulting Cell services to understand our options for selling the cell tower contract. These options were shared with the congregation last winter. No decision was made to sell the cell tower contract at that time. In April, we had another offer on the cell tower contract, with a value of $400,000 with no requirement to pay a fee to Gunderson Consulting. Again, no decision was made.

  In March 2024, I started reaching out to potential developers. After the Bishop’s Convocation in April, I started attending a monthly meeting of other churches in the synod, to share what they are doing with their property in an effort for us to learn from each other. After many months of providing resources and contacts to Council to move forward with decisions, I feel I have done everything I can to support and advise Council in this matter.

  In November 2023 I offered to save the congregation $30,000 by eliminating my medical benefits through Pointe of Grace and moving over to my husband’s medical benefit plan.  I have asked for two years for a stewardship campaign from Council, only to receive strong push back, so instead, I moved to putting the message of stewardship in my preaching. I have added some new outreach opportunities into the larger community this last year (Grief Support Group at the YMCA and Theology Pub) in an effort to get out the door of the church and let the larger community engage in PoG beyond a Sunday worship. We now participate in the Lighthouse Festival parade for better visibility too. In my 5+ years at PoG, I have added Trunk-or-Treat, Preschool Chapel and Parent Chat, and the Community Garden, all in an attempt for deeper outreach to the community. I have done some heavy lifting, sharing my passion and excitement in an effort to share the joy of Jesus and this faith community with others beyond our walls. But I cannot do it alone. It reminds me of the story book “The Giving Tree.” I love PoG, and I continue to give everything I can.

  At this time, I am asking that the faith family of Pointe of Grace gives all they can too. Our bank account is at $30,000 for use towards regular expenses. We do not have the current funds to make it past the Christmas season. If expenses are not reduced and income increased, we will need to suffer the consequences of not making hard decisions and be forced to close the doors of the church. This affects more than Pointe of Grace. This affects the Preschool staff, students and families. It affects Packs for Kids, AA groups, our charter Troop #189 of Scouts, the Unity Church, and many others who use our space and find it a beacon in the neighborhood.

  We may have missed our window of opportunity in sub-dividing the back lot or selling the cell tower in the time remaining in our bank account. Not making decisions is making a decision.

  Per the Constitution of Pointe of Grace, C10.02, I have asked for a Special Meeting of the Congregation to vote on solutions for the financial issues upon us. I am asking this meeting to be done on Sunday, October 27th at 11am: Reformation Sunday. Maybe we can be reformed that day in making the necessary decisions and required vote to make headway on our current financial situation. This vote will include the Council’s possible recommendations on 1) salary reductions, 2) sale of cell tower contract, and 3) sub-dividing and sale of piece of church property.

  Over the next few weeks, I encourage all members to speak/email with the council and continue brainstorming and coming up with other potential solutions which may not have been thought of yet. As shared in Sunday’s Financial Update conversation, there are short, mid, and long term potential solutions. These now need to be decided and voted on. The proverbial “conversational can” has been kicked down the street long enough. Some of the listed options may no longer even be feasible in our remaining time of money left in the bank, because we have waited too long to make a decision. These things need to be researched by members of the faith community or Council and presented for a vote on 10/27/2024. We cannot put energy into building a 2025 budget if we will not be open or have funds in the bank.

  I am confident in saying: I love this faith community. I see its potential. I know it can do hard things if it chooses to do so. I also lean solidly in the fact that God will journey with us and only wants what is best for us. We need to be in prayerful vigilance during this time and listening to God (who speaks often through others around us!) and then be willing to act boldly.

In the Peace of Christ always,
Pastor Pam