We have just begun the middle four months of the year and the results are in for the first four month period. Attendance has been holding its own and even growing some.
Committees appear to be working and people in general seem to be getting along.
Based on the treasurer's report at the Board meeting last Sunday, giving is down from a year ago. Added to that fact that the congregation voted to increase the overall budget for 2001, it makes the decline in giving that much more significant. Washington D.C. Mr. Mattingly quotes a study done by Sylvia and John Ronsvalle who operate a think tank that analyzes data on giving in religious institutions. They addressed two questions that the Ronsvalles said affect many churches. They concluded that the answers are rarely comforting.