Capital Campaign

Financial and Stewardship Campaign Update – 2/1/12

Bishop Peggy Johnson welcomes Mr. Brad Patterson, a Vice President with CSS to work on a day to day basis with the Capital Campaign to address the Pre-82 Retired Clergy Pension Liability approved at Annual Conference in November. We have engaged with CCS to assist in the planning of our campaign.

The firm’s leadership assigned to the EPAUMC is Robert Rice, a principal with the firm, Luke Driscoll, a Corporate Vice President, and Brad Patterson, a Vice President for CCS. Please take a moment to explore the firm (www.ccsfundraising.com). Brad Patterson has arrived on-site and will be working in the Conference offices during the next few months. He can be reached via telephone at 484.762.8239 and via email at bpatterson@ccsfundraising.com.

During the upcoming weeks and months, Bishop Johnson, a recruited advisory board, internal staff resources and CCS will be working together to develop a clear case for support, a campaign plan and timetable, an education and communication strategy, and gift recognition and giving policies. The purpose of taking these few months to prepare is to create a campaign structure that is inclusive, thoughtful and ensures each member’s questions are answered quickly and with transparency.

Please join us in praying for these individuals and our shared mission of calling persons to new life in Jesus Christ.

READ: 19 Questions on the Importance Grow, Stablize, & Seed Capital Campaign 

Adopted Resolution from Adjourned Session:

RESOLUTION 2012

Resolution to Conduct a Conference-wide Stewardship Campaign to Help  Fund the Pre-82 Pension Liability at 100%

Presented by The Bishop's Capital Campaign Task Force

WHEREAS The EPA Conference authorized a feasibility study to help guide the design of a conference-wide stewardship campaign to help fund the Pre-82 Pension Liability and a Task Force appointed by the Bishop has evaluated the results of that study;

WHEREAS Over 1,000 members of the Conference and Local Churches have provided input to the study by completing an on-line survey and participating in individual interviews;

WHEREAS The Task Force appointed by the Bishop believes that the survey participants are a representative sample of the Conference and have expressed the “will of the conference”;

WHEREAS The survey and interviews indicate the following:

1. An overwhelming majority of the participants are in favor of conducting a Stewardship Campaign to help fund the Pre-82 Pension liability;

1. Most participants think the Campaign should be for the Pre-82 Pension liability only;

WHEREAS Competitive bids for  a professional fundraising firm to assist the Conference in the conduct of a Stewardship campaign have been solicited and those bids have been evaluated by a Task Force appointed by the Bishop and that Task Force has conducted interviews with selected firms;

WHEREAS The Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits, the  Conference Board of Trustees and the Conference Council of Finance and  Administration sponsored the original resolution which included this capital stewardship campaign;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that  the Task Force appointed by the Bishop will become the  an Interim STEERING COMMITTEEE to begin planning the campaign with CCS and develop a new steering committee based on consultation with CCS to conduct a Conference wide Stewardship campaign as indicated below:

1. The Financial Goal of the campaign will be $3,000,000 net for Pre-82 Pension;
2. Use of funds raised will be restricted to paying expenses of the campaign,  paying Pre-82 Pension Liability, and paying expenses of administering the funds;
3. Each Local Church will work to set a fair share target (This will not be an apportionment or a bill from the conference)
4. The campaign will last three years, but the commencement of a Local Church’s participation may be postponed up to two years;
5. Participation by the local church will be voluntary;
6. CCS Fundraising will be engaged to assist in the conduct of the campaign with a cost not to exceed $310,000;
7. Funds raised will be held at the Mid-Atlantic United Methodist Foundation;
8. Disbursement of the funds raised will be managed by the Conference Board of Pensions and Health Benefits;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Steering Committee is authorized to devise additional, detailed plans and procedures as necessary to conduct the campaign and to guide Local Churches' participation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Steering Committee will periodically report on the progress of the campaign to the Conference on a not less than quarterly basis.