Message from Leadership Council Co-Chair, Joanne Pritchard

With the closure of our building due to the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic in March and the loss of our primary renter at the end of the summer, McDougall has taken a significant financial hit this year. Fortunately, through the work of our innovative, staff team, our Operations team and volunteers, the important work of our church has continued. 

Here are some highlights:

·      The move to online worship services by Rev. Joanne Anquist’s worship team 

·      The move to an online Zoom platform for the Staff, Operations meetings and Leadership Council meetings as well as for many groups in the church to stay connected 

·      The timely information provided through email blasts and newsletters (on line and by post)

·      Food security programs: the Emergency Food Drive for Stoney Nakoda, the additional Acadia Food Pantry; the Brown Bag Lunch Program and the Feed the Hungry Dinner in its COVID-safe format  

·      Provision of laptops/ chrome books to our Refugee Project families to facilitate their online school work or ESL learning.

·      Right Relations initiatives such as the erection of a reconciliation Tipi in our sanctuary

·      The development of McDougall’s Relaunch Plan and the careful implementation of COVID-safe programming, events and worship 

These achievements and the retention of our staff through this fall were made possible because of the national United Church and the federal government subsidies. However, once the government wage subsidy ends, and if we do not find new sources of income in 2021, our current budget levels will not be not sustainable.  Therefore, at their August meeting, Leadership Council members agreed to develop a 2-year sustainable plan and budget for McDougall. This work requires that we, as a congregation, seriously reconsider our priorities for future church ministries and related staffing. A new Leadership Council Working Group, under the leadership of Marjorie MacRae, has been formed to undertake this work. Details of their plan for carrying out their mandate will be presented at the October 13 Leadership Council meeting. It is anticipated that congregational members will be asked to complete a priorities survey shortly afterwards.

Once the LC Planning Working Group has reviewed the congregational feedback provided in the survey and the 2021 Stewardship Campaign pledge results, they will draft a 2 -year sustainable plan and work with the Treasurer to develop a 2021 budget and 2022 budget forecast.. In January, the Leadership Council will review their recommendations before they are presented to the February AGM for congregational approval. 

McDougall leaders strongly believe that in these troubling times it is even more important that McDougall aims to be  “a vibrant, diverse, inclusive, spiritual community shaped by contemporary Christian values”. Please support this vision with your pledge of financial support during this year’s Stewardship Campaign.

Joanne Pritchard

McDougall Council Co-Chair