Faithfulness through Finances
Budgeting According to Our Mission
As a church family, we seek to invest financially according to the mission of our church, which reflects the Great Commission:
Grace Church of Mentor exists to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and equipping the saints with the goal of Christ-likeness!
2024-25 Budget Breakdown ($1.3M)
Below is the breakdown of our budget following our mission:
Giving vs. Proposed Budget
Changes to Note in the 2024-25 Proposed Budget
- Adjusts our offering goal to match actual giving in 2023-24 ($1.3M).
- Asks our Pastoral Staff to forego certain compensation benefits and most ministries to reduce spending and/or postpone plans.
- Affirms our commitment to church planting and beginning the next phase of Arch Ministries.
- Funding for a future building has been moved from the budget to the Blessing Plan.
Why do we need to adjust our offering levels and ask ministries to reduce spending?
During COVID, our offerings went up significantly. They have now returned to a normal growth rate. This, along with a temporary increase of support to Arch Ministries, is the reason why we need to make adjustments this year.
View Budget Handouts
Financial FAQs
General
When is the church’s fiscal year?
The church operates on a fiscal year from April 1 through March 31.
How are offerings received by Grace?
Grace accepts offerings multiple ways: cash or check given through offering boxes in the church building and credit/debit card and ACH transactions given online through Pushpay. Giving by cash, check, or ACH is the most cost-effective way to give to Grace.
Budget
How is the budget created and approved?
The budget starts at the committee level, where the committee works together with the staff to build a proposed budget based on historical spending and current missional needs. Once the committee approves the proposal, it is sent to the elders no later than two weeks before the Annual Meeting for their review. The Budget committee chairman will then meet with the elders and make any adjustments, if needed. Once the proposed budget is approved by the elders, it is sent to the congregation no later than one week before the Annual Meeting for their review. The proposed budget will be formally presented to the congregation at the Annual Meeting by either the deacon over finance or the Budget chairman. The congregation votes for approval at the Annual Vote.
Who is on the Budget Committee?
The budget committee must “consist of at least one elder, plus a maximum of six deacons, plus at least one member at large from the congregation” (see pg. 44 of the Church Constitution). The current Chairman elected by the committee is Matthew Albright. The remaining members are Sharon Battig, Josh Carney, Seth Coelen, Dave Hixson, Mike Hixson, Kent Hobi, Al Keim, Jean Petrik, Steve Sindelar, KJ Stambaugh, Brandon Teske, and Tyler Teske.
Where can I see year-to-date progress for the budget?
Progress will be posted on this page (above). You can see weekly updates through the Prepare to Worship document sent out on Fridays. Monthly giving updates are sent by email to members and regular attendees.
What is the Blessing Plan and when do we use it?
The Blessing Plan is simply that, a plan. Grace desires to be a faithful steward of God’s money, and one way to accomplish this is by having a plan ready to implement if God’s people give above and beyond the budget. The Blessing Plan is not a new or separate budget, but additions we would like to make to the budget in a prioritized manner if we were to exceed our offering goal that year.
Does my vote matter if the budget has already been voted on by the elders?
Your vote matters in several ways. The proposed budget does not become the operating budget for the church until it is voted on and approved by a majority of the church membership. If the budget is not approved by the membership, the church will operate on the prior year's budget until a new proposal is brought to the membership and approved. A "yes" vote (although you may not agree with every single number) also communicates your agreement with the overall proposed spending plan, and commitment to give toward funding the budget. A "no" vote indicates you disagree with the overall direction or philosophy of the plan, but as a voting member and Spirit-indwelt believer, you are free to do so!
Staffing
How are staff salaries determined?
Pastoral and support staff salaries are determined and recommended to the elders by the Administrative Advisory Committee.
What is the Administrative Advisory Committee?
For a full description of the Administrative Advisory Committee, see Article IX, Section 2 of the Church Constitution. Basically, the Administrative Advisory Committee or AAC is “a committee directly under the authority of the elders, with such power, rights, and duties as granted to it by the elders. Unless otherwise specifically provided by the elders, the AAC is not a decision-making body but rather an advisory body which provides recommendations to the elders regarding the following staff matters: (i) compensation and benefits; (ii) performance evaluations; (iii) administrative policies and procedures; (iv) government compliance matters; and (v) such other duties assigned by the elders.” The Administrative Advisory Committee consists of four to six members. At all times, at least one member of the AAC will be an elder of this Church (whether he currently serves or has served as elder).
What are the staff’s salaries?
Grace Church does not share the exact salaries of its staff. If you would like to further learn about how salaries are determined, please ask for our Philosophy of Compensation.