Creating an Annual Budget

We establish funding for our various ministries and mission through a process that includes proposing and adopting an annual budget that passes through many "sieves." Each fall, the staff and Financial and Property Administrators first draft a preliminary budget that is then presented to the elders for their review, adjustment, and approval. Once approved, the elders then present the budget to the congregation at the Annual Meeting in December for recommended adoption. The congregation then adopts the annual budget at the first Quarterly Strategy Meeting in January.

Content of the Annual Budget
Our budget is currently organized in two broad sections: Ministry and Operating Expenses, and Evangelism and Missions Expenses. Ministry and Operating categories are traditionally around 70% of the annual budget, and include expenses for Pastors and Staff, Building and Property, Family Discipleship, Adult Ministries, Worship and Music, and Office. We strive to keep Evangelism and Missions categories around 30% of the annual budget. They include funding for World Missions, Neighborhood Outreach, Campus Outreach, and Church Planting.

At Bethlehem's Winter Quarterly Strategy meeting held January 27, 2008, the congregation voted to approve an $8.6M Church and Missions budget for 2008. An overview of the 2008 budget presentation is included here, as well as a copy of the overview brochure that summarized those changes.

If you have additional questions on the Annual Budget, please feel free to contact Jon Grano, Lead Pastor for Operations by phone (612.455.3467) or email.