Heard it at Council: February 2026

By Kate Silfen, Church Historian | February 2026 Council Meeting Report

The Reverend John Edgerton opened our February Council meeting with readings from Acts and Corinthians. These represent two different accounts of the early church's efforts to “get things right.” These words set the tone for a very full meeting about the Church’s finances and our ongoing work to hire a consultant for Belonging.

Treasurer Donna Matson offered an overview of Old South’s finances from the past year. We are closing the fiscal year with a significantly larger deficit than we had anticipated last year. The deficit results from a shortfall in congregational giving and overages in contract expenses, building repairs, and utilities. The good news is that our endowment has grown substantially over the past year.

Finance Committee Chair Paul Kuenstner provided details about the new budget and efforts to reduce deficit spending in the next year. There are several spending cuts. The church administrator and archivist positions have been eliminated, and the Taylor Fellow will be returned to the original designated half-time position in the coming year. Proposed changes to increase our revenue include limiting parking passes, increasing building rentals by 5%, and suggesting donations for the All-Church Retreat and the First Night Concerts. There is also an anticipated one-time gift for 2026. There is still a small deficit expected for 2026, but the Finance Committee anticipates that the 2026 budget puts us on the road to a balanced budget for the future.  Paul praised the hard work of the Finance Committee in preparing the proposed budget and called it a true team effort. After some discussion, Council voted in favor of approving the 2026 budget introduced by the Finance Committee. 

Tim and June provided Council with an exciting update on their efforts to recruit a Consultant for Belonging. The Committee has received twelve promising proposals. A few proposals came from candidates who are nationally known in their denominations. Tim and June reported that they have had seven Zoom interviews with potential candidates. Each candidate was asked to describe their negotiating style and how they have handled racially sensitive situations. Several of the candidates impressed the committee with their interpersonal skills and ability to manage difficult conversations. There will be a second round of interviews for finalists, and Tim and June hope to present a candidate to Council in March. 

Stewardship Committee Chair Todd Krohne thanked Council members for their generosity.. The Committee is still counting pledges, but so far they are seeing more giving than they did at this time last year. Committee members are busy reaching out to people who pledged last year but haven’t yet pledged for 2026. Todd said the committee is discussing how to increase their development efforts and be more intentional about celebrating the gifts we receive.