The document outlines the multi-step budget process for a church, including gathering input from committees and staff, compiling requests, negotiating with representatives, revising the budget, and final approval. It stresses counting all costs, including financial, volunteer time, facility usage, and impact on other programs, when proposing new initiatives. A ski trip example demonstrates calculating specific costs and identifying funding sources.

1. Understanding the Budget Process

2. STEP ONE Each Committee and Staff Member Offers Input

3. 1. Gather your goals and objectives for the coming year. STEP ONE Each Committee and Staff Member Offers Input

4. 2. Do not feel like last year’s programs MUST be included in this year’s budget. STEP ONE Each Committee and Staff Member Offers Input

5. 3. Every program, event, and motion should have a “financial statement.” STEP ONE Each Committee and Staff Member Offers Input

6. “I move that we send ten new missionaries to Brazil.”

7. “I move that we send ten new missionaries to Brazil – and to pay for that we will reduce our missionaries in Haiti by ten.

8. Count the cost of every program.

9. Count the cost of every program. 1. Volunteer Time.

10. Count the cost of every program. 1. Volunteer Time. 2. Facility Use (and wear, tear and cost on the building).

11. Count the cost of every program. 1. Volunteer Time. 2. Facility Use (and wear, tear and cost on the building). 3. Financial Cost.

12. Counting the Financial Cost.

13. Counting the Financial Cost.

14. Counting the Financial Cost.

15. Counting the Financial Cost. 1. Is this something that God is calling us to do?

16. Counting the Financial Cost. 1. Is this something that God is calling us to do? 2. How will we afford this?

17. Counting the Financial Cost. 1. Is this something that God is calling us to do? 2. How will we afford this? - From the Budget?

18. Counting the Financial Cost. 1. Is this something that God is calling us to do? 2. How will we afford this? - From the Budget? Then we either reduce an equal spending for something else OR...

19. Counting the Financial Cost. 1. Is this something that God is calling us to do? 2. How will we afford this? - From the Budget? Then we either reduce an equal spending for something else OR... we increase our budget income.

20. Counting the Financial Cost. 1. Is this something that God is calling us to do? 2. How will we afford this? - From the budget, Fund Raising, Participant Fees, Bartering with other Churches, And other creative actions!

21. EXAMPLE – 2010 SKI TRIP Is this something God wants us to do?

22. Count the financial cost Fuel cost for bus Expenses for 3 to 4 chaperons Rooming along the way Food along the way Registration for each participant What does registration cover? Ski lessons, equipment, rooms, meals, transportation to the slopes. EXAMPLE – 2010 SKI TRIP

23. Count the financial cost For 11 youth and 4 adult chaperons $5,050 EXAMPLE – 2010 SKI TRIP

25. What if the fundraising falls short? We can use up to $1,000 from the General Budget’s Camp and Conference line item, but that may mean we don’t go to CedarKirk. EXAMPLE – 2010 SKI TRIP

26. Count the other “costs”- Volunteer Energy Calendar Issues Staff Time Impact on Chapel

27. STEP TWO Budget and Finance Committee gathers and compiles all budget requests STEP ONE Each Committee and Staff Member Offers Input

28. STEP TWO Budget and Finance Committee gathers and compiles all budget requests STEP ONE Committee Input STEP THREE Budget and Finance Committee meets with committee representatives for the “give and take.”

29. STEP TWO Budget and Finance Committee gathers and compiles all budget requests STEP ONE Committee Input STEP THREE Budget and Finance Committee meets with committee representatives for the “give and take.” STEP FOUR Budget and Finance Committee revises budget.

30. STEP TWO Budget and Finance Committee gathers and compiles all budget requests STEP ONE Committee Input STEP THREE Budget and Finance Committee meets with committee representatives for the “give and take.” STEP FOUR Budget and Finance Committee revises budget. STEP FIVE Session approves budget.