Are You Ready for the New Year?
December in the Episcopal Church is full of beauty and motion. The Advent wreath is lit. The choir is layering harmonies over “O come, O come, Emmanuel.” The sacristy smells like candle wax and evergreen. There’s pageant rehearsal in the parish hall and a plate of cookies left behind from the coffee hour. And Vestries and endowment committees are squeezing in one last meeting before the year ends.
It’s a beautiful and sacred time, and it’s also a lot. It’s a busy time. So no, this may not feel like the moment to talk about your endowment, but a little check-in now can help set your agenda for next year
and answer the questions you may get at your church’s annual meeting in January.
Here are four questions to ask before the new year begins:
Review what the endowment supported this year
Was there program expansion, building repairs, outreach, or new hires funded by your invested funds? Naming these stories now helps you tell a fuller financial story in January.
Reconnect with your endowment policies
Take a few minutes to revisit the purpose of your endowment. Is it still clear? Is it widely understood by the committee and your congregation? Has the endowment’s mission shifted in ways this year that your endowment materials don’t yet reflect? Do you need to tweak or overhaul your policies next year? Revisit them now so you can plan to do the heavy lifting next year.
Talk with your committee, Vestry or finance leaders
A brief conversation now can build shared understanding and help leadership enter the annual meeting aligned and prepared. And take time to build relationships with new members you’ll be on-boarding in the new year. What can help them feel excited and prepared for their new duties?
Consider whether your investment allocation still supports the future you envision
Many congregations revisit their allocation at the start of the year. You may want to begin thinking about those adjustments or the questions you need to ask to make a decision in the new year.
Making time for brief reflection now does not take away from Advent. It supports the work you’ll carry out the new year. And it helps your congregation hear a confident, unified, and steady message from a prepared endowment committee in January.
If you would like support reviewing your policies, thinking through year-end questions, or preparing to tell the story of your endowment at the annual meeting, we are here to help. Contact us at [email protected].