Presbytery of Greater Atlanta

2018 Narrative Budget & Mission Funding Report

Mission Funding

The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta's Strategic Purpose is to be a catalyst, creator and equipper of healthy, vital and growing congregations in all regions of the Presbytery so that congregations in our jurisdiction are growing in their attitude, effectiveness and numbers towards the Great Ends of the Church. Through your dollars generously shared with the Presbytery, we are able to carry out the mission and ministry outlined in this Narrative Budget. You and your churches enable the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta to accomplish our fundamental goal of service and witness to Jesus Christ throughout the bounds of our Presbytery and beyond.

Fostering Congregational Vitality Operating Budget* Other Sources* $579,784.58 $324,368.05 We equip our existing congregations for ministry and mission by:

• Direct contact with the presbytery through an assigned Congregational Consultant • Resourcing congregations’ programmatic and administrative needs • Assisting with Congregational Assessments and Strategic Planning • Walking with congregations and pastors in challenging times • Facilitating effective pastoral transitions • Demographic studies to help congregations get to know their neighbors

• Assisting congregations to find Interim Pastors to help prepare the way for the next pastor • Providing grants for ministry and mission, such as:

o Congregational initiatives to alleviate hunger o Ministries to reach youth and young adults o Touching our neighbors through ministries of compassion and justice o Reaching across barriers of language and race o Making church facilities more accessible for persons with disabilities

Catalyzing and Equipping Operating Budget Other Sources New Worshiping Communities $168,994.65 $347,284.64 We are building a culture of innovation and a spirit of adventure throughout our Presbytery, encouraging a renewed emphasis on evangelism and fresh ways to live out that calling, and partnering throughout PGA to develop and support new PCUSA expressions of church by:

• Working with Discerners o Providing coaches, New Initiatives

Teams and/or events to help leaders, PGA churches, local communities and/or interested networks, imagine and discern their call to start a new worshiping community

• Supporting Starters o Financing coaches and continuing education (when possible) o Offering a Church Starter Cohort, Annual Starter’s Retreat, fellowship events o Generating and offering training opportunities as well as assistance in creating bench

marks and discerning next steps o Giving infrastructure support (payroll, accounting, 501c3 status, etc.)

• Collaborating with Churches Starting New Churches

Oikos Retreat

Congregational Consulting

Nurturing the Call Operating Budget Other Sources $155,392.46 $4,000.00 Believing that healthy churches need healthy pastors, we offer clergy support through: • Vocational development for individuals desiring to become ordained through guidance, support, certification, and scholarships • Nurture for ministers through clergy resource groups including:

o Monthly Pastor Group o Bi-monthly clergy cluster luncheons o First Call and First Head of Staff programs o Coaching cohorts with nationally recognized experts

• Career evaluation and counseling for both candidates and clergy as necessary • Campus ministries at Agnes Scott, Emory, and Georgia Tech • Seminarian Stipend Award Grants

Other Missional Support Operating Budget $96,184.13 As a presbytery, we provide direct funding for:

• Camps, conferences, and retreat at Calvin Center • Witnessing on behalf of the church to promote the common good through education and

advocacy on social issues Denominational Participation Operating Budget $280,509.93

Through per capita and other giving, we support the work of the Synod of South Atlantic and the General Assembly

Administration and Operations Operating Budget $230,767.63 A portion of our budget supports the operation of the Presbytery, including:

• The costs of occupying our building • Financial, administrative, communications, and technology functions

Pastor Group

Jane Fahey & Jan Edmiston

• Ecclesiastical functions such as o Statistics o Maintaining presbytery roles o Training Permanent Judicial Commissions

Totals Operating Budget* Other Support* $1,511,633.38 $675,652.69 Congregation Designated Mission Support $84,646.82 The Presbytery serves as a conduit to assist congregations in directing funds given for:

• Denominational offerings and support • Other ministries, including:

o Columbia Theological Seminary o Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary o Thornwell Home for Children o Presbyterian College o Presbyterian Homes of Georgia o Villa International

*Operating Budget numbers represent the proposed 2018 budget. Other Sources represent current year-to-date spending from revenue sources outside the Operating Budget. Staff costs are allocated across the mission and ministry areas of the budget proportional to the time spent supporting each area.