What we get for the money

by Karen Frank-Plumlee (Updated as of 12/31/06)

 

Our church expresses itself in covenantal relationships in congregations (99 in the Kansas region), regions (33 in the US and Canada) and general (1) ministries, bound by God’s covenant of love.  When we join a congregation in Kansas, we become not only members of that congregation, but we also become members of the regional church, the Christian Church in Kansas (Disciples of Christ) and the general church, The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada.  There is no us and them.  It is all us.  We are voting members of the congregation we join.  Our congregations select voting representatives for the regional assembly and the general assembly.  All clergy with standing are voting members in all three expressions of the church.

 

Districts or areas are not expressions of church but are subdivisions within regional churches to better facilitate the care, fellowship and mission of congregations, ministers and people within a geographical area.  The Christian Church in Kansas has five districts.  Central and High Plains districts have a joint satellite district office in Great Bend.  Our South Central District (SCD) office is in Augusta.  The Northeast and Southeast districts do not have satellite offices.

 

The purpose of the SCD is to provide resources, leadership development and oversight, to facilitate communications between congregations and between the regional church and congregations and to encourage support systems and continuing education for clergy and lay people.  The functions of the SCD are to support and help implement regional programs, to coordinate the work of the regional commissions within the district and to develop and coordinate the ministry of the district.

 

The SCD meets in a district assembly in odd numbered years and for a festival in even numbered years.  The district holds other events as planned.  The SCD Disciples Men meet on the 5th Tuesdays, the SCD Disciples Women meet on the 5th Wednesdays and the SCD Disciples Youth meet on the 5th Saturdays of the year.

 

The moderator of the SC District is Bob Gleason, pastor of Woodridge Christian Church.  Ken Finley, interim pastor of First Christian Church, Douglass, will become moderator at our district assembly on March 18, 2007 at FCC Haysville when a new district cabinet is elected.  All members of Disciples congregations in the district registering and attending the SCD Assembly are eligible to vote. 

 

Since the closing of FCC Wichita in the fall of 2005, FCC Augusta has provided a two-room suite of offices for the SCD as part of their district contribution.  Thank you, FCC Augusta.

 

The SCD is supported mainly by the congregations within the district.  The SCD budget items are: office (telephone, internet, copier rental and fees, and office supplies and postage), any program costs not covered by registrations and 75% of the administrative assistant’s salary.  None of the salary and expenses of the Associate Regional Minister deployed to the SCD are paid by district funds.  The 2006 SCD income was $22,562.76.  Expenses totaled $21,109.49. 

 

So, what do you get for the money?

(Based on 2006 figures)

1) Office within the district - $3,277.

2) Administrative assistant - $17,833 (SCD 3/4th share).   Office hours are 8-4:30 Monday through Friday.

3) Associate Regional Minister close at hand - $0.

 

This year to date twenty SCD congregations, SCD DW 5th Wednesday ($150), SCD DM ($482.79) and one individual ($1,665) have contributed $22,160.97 to the SCD budget with most giving monthly.  At the end of 2006 the SCD was in the black $1,051.48 with $7,292.97 in the SCD portion of the checking account.

 

Congregations’ contributions received in 2006

      Arkansas City FCC                $2,750.00*

      Augusta FCC                  $   860.00 + office space*

      Caldwell, CCC                $1,023.84*

      Cheney TUCC                $   367.65

      Clearwater FCC                $1,000.00*

      Douglass FCC                $   500.00*

      El Dorado FCC        $1,680.00

      Haysville FCC                $   500.00

      Newton FCC                   $2,117.99*

      Oxford CC                        $1,202.57*

      Wellington FCC        $1,300.00

      Wichita:

                Broadway CC       $   571.27

                Fairview CC           $   561.00*

                Faith CC                $1,003.05*

                Hillside CC           $   910.06

                N Heights CC                $   600.00

                Pine Valley CC                $     50.00

                      Riverside CC        $   871.75

                      Woodridge CC                $1,326.00*

      Winfield FCC                  $   522.00

 

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

 

(*Met or exceeded $5 per Participating Member)