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Friends United Meeting |
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July/August 2000
News from Friends United Meeting
WHAT FUTURE FOR FRIENDS UNITED MEETING?
Interim General Secretary, Editor of Quaker Life Announced
Financial Decisions Delay Some Priorities
The General Board of FUM faced significant personnel and financial decisions at its June meetings. The search committee recommended that Wayne Carter be appointed interim general secretary, to serve from July 1 through December 31, 2000. The committee hopes to bring the name of a general secretary to the October meeting of the Board. Wayne has been a pastor in Western, Indiana and North Carolina Yearly Meeting, and served as presiding clerk of FUM from 1996-1999. This recommendation was greeted with approval and applause by the Board. Wayne offered to serve with only his expenses being reimbursed during this period.
In his final report to the Board, Johan Maurer announced the appointment of Patricia Edwards-Konic as the new editor of Quaker Life. She served FUM in the 1980s as a curriculum editor and has served pastorates in Indiana, Wilmington and Iowa Yearly Meetings. She begins her service in July. Ben Richmond was thanked for extending his service beyond his originally intended departure date.
The Finance Committee Report
The Board agenda was dominated by the report of the Finance Committee
which revealed that, for several years, FUM has been spending between
$15,000 and $20,000 per month in excess of income from its general operating
budget. It appears that while income has increased over these years, more
of the donations were "restricted" or 'designated" by donors
than could be sustained long-term by the general budget. Although spending
was close to budget, the general fund was in deficit. This had been obscured
by reports and audits based on total assets that did not reveal the pattern
of overspending of the general fund. Accurate reporting and segregation
of restricted accounts, now in place, insure against continuing this confusion.
Auditor Larry Ness reported that FUM remains completely solvent, and there is no evidence of misuse of money. Accurate records of restricted gifts have been maintained and the money has been allocated correctly.
After several years of frustration with the Blackbaud general ledger software, which had been purchased to avoid Y2K problems and to provide better financial reporting, a new and simpler accounting system is in place. Detailed income and expense reports for the first five months of 2000 were available at the June meeting. Following recommendations of the Program Coordination and Priorities Committee (PCPC), the year 2000 general fund budget of $950,000 was reduced by $100,000 for the final six-month period; the projected 2001 budget is $760,000. To accomplish this FUM laid off two support staff and will move to two executive staff positions: general secretary and director of world missions. The work of yearly meeting relations (formerly meeting ministries) will temporarily be folded into the general secretary's portfolio. This position, a key element of the vision for FUM developed at the February Board meeting, remains a priority for future budgets.
Friends United Press and Quaker Life, both historically underwritten by the general budget, must reduce their subsidies. Quaker Hill Bookstore is required to break even.
One world missions project is currently supported by the general budget: $6,000 for Turkana. That general budget support will end in 2001. The general budget also subsidizes under-funded field staff; those subsidies are reduced in 2000 and eliminated in 2001.
Board members are taking active responsibility for local fund raising in their yearly meetings, and the Finance Committee is exploring other income streams.
More Staff Transitions
The Board said farewell to Johan Maurer who is leaving his position as
general secretary to join the pastoral team at Reedwood Friends Church
in Portland, Oregon. "Infectious enthusiasm, a totally open acceptance
of all persons, clarity, truth-telling, superb writing skills, and ability
to keep on growing, a high energy level, a deep personal commitment to
Jesus Christ" were only some of the personal attributes noted in
a minute asking God's continued blessing on Johan and his family.
The Executive Committee also announced that Retha McCutchen had tendered her resignation as director of world missions effective at the end of December 2000. The Board accepted her resignation with regret, and noted her positive impact during her years of service. ("The Transformation of FUM Missions" will appear in an upcoming Quaker Life.)
In her letter to the Executive Committee, Retha wrote: "Today's bad news could certainly be viewed as God's timing to set everything aside and rebuild according to the 21st Century version of what only FUM can do to represent the message of Friends in a needy world....Today doesn't feel like a setback as much as a heading into an exciting future."
Copyright (c) 2000 Friends United Meeting
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