2023 Ministry & Mission Budget Allocation

Our congregation has been blessed with an endowment created by generations of generous ancestors. Income from the endowment has been, and continues to be, the principal source of support for our ministry and mission.

In order to be good stewards of this legacy, we looked this year at ways that we could respond to market conditions, which declined sharply in 2022. We defined two goals: (1) to reduce spending (2) without harming our staff or our mission.

We have been moderately successful in doing both: by careful attention to every aspect of our life together, we have reduced projected spending by about 7%, and we have offered the staff and musicians increased compensation to offset the reality of aggressive inflation.

We know that the market decline has been more aggressive than our cutting has been. We have invited a strategic planner from the PC(USA) Foundation to help us consider “best practices” for the future, so that we can continue to follow the call of Christ in downtown Binghamton and in other parts of the world.

Nourishing Worship

The vital center of our life as a congregation is the Sunday morning worship service, when we gather as a family of faith. This is where our work begins and is nurtured — in the love and worship of God, and the community we are building to glorify God.

We welcome people of all ages and cultures, and are open and affirming of LGBTQIA+ families.
We share the Word in a range of styles and experiences, striving to accommodate special needs.
The preaching is practical and focused on understanding and living the gospel in our world.
The music is varied and inclusive, featuring instruments from organ and piano to shakuhachi and drums, with a bell choir as well as a talented vocal choir to lead our singing.
As we pray for each other in good times and hard times, we grow together in faith.
Children are encouraged to participate in the conduct and leadership of the worship as they are able from an early age. A “Pray Ground” offers a space to play and participate in age-appropriate activities within the context of the worshiping community.

Radical Hospitality

Early in our life together as United Presbyterian, the Session decided that we will welcome anyone who shares our vision of a place to grow, to gather, and to build each other up. Every encounter is challenging, and every day we learn more about how to be God’s people and provide a safe place for people to come together and grow together.

Training programs for community activists in the housing crisis and the work of anti-racism in Binghamton.
A chance to start again for adults who did not finish high school at the usual time, and the alternative high school for students who need a different learning environment.
A community coming from all walks of life, to serve and share a meal around tables every Tuesday night.
A community garden and food pantry that help to supply nourishment for those in need.
A venue for arts groups such as LUMA and Tri-Cities Opera to share their work in the downtown area.
We are in a conversation with the Addiction Center of Broome County and the Stakeholders of Broome County about creating a warming station on the 1st floor of the education wing, allowing unhoused adults a safe place to sleep and during the winter months. Open between the hours of 5:00pm and 7:00am, the warming station will provide dinner and breakfast and cots to sleep on and will be staffed by awake-overnight personnel.

Challenging Conversations

Our growth as Christians begins in the worship of the living God, and is grounded in common prayer, study, and conversations with each other and with those who can teach us more about our world and how we can respond to it.

Conversations during worship and at potluck luncheons that focus on understanding our diversity and our values as a congregation.
Sunday morning mission speakers that bring a wide conversation to us about their work in the world.
Bible studies that focus on the meaning of the texts in their time and context, then consider what they mean in the 21st century.
Participation in wider community conversations through Children of Abraham, Binghamton University Interfaith Council, Citizen Action, the Stakeholders of Broome County, Justice and Unity for the Southern Tier, and other partner organizations.

Transforming Mission

We work to transform our community through alliances and outreach to people at risk in our society: the formerly incarcerated, the homeless, people with addictions. We share space, support PC(USA) mission programs and offerings, and:

Support a case manager in the “Walk with Me” program, helping people returning from incarceration.
Support community arts programs such as Tri-Cities Opera, LUMA, and PorchFest. This year we also supported both Juneteenth and the Black Excellence Awards.
Work together with NAACP, Stakeholders of Broome County, Justice and Unity for the Southern Tier, ACBC, STAP, and A4TD to end racism, confront violence, and bring new possibilities for life together in Broome County.
Participate with VINES, CHOW, and the Food Bank of the Southern Tier to ensure that everyone has access to nourishment. We have recently received a grant that will fund delivery of meals to the unhoused and housebound members of our community.
Through our pantry, we offer hygiene products not covered by government assistance as well. This year we have been able to add diapers and adult protective wear to our pantry, as well as a “gift closet” for parents who want to give a birthday gift to their child.
We continue to support the Whuti-Sgroboe congregation in Ghana, sending gifts each year.
We continue to support Dave Ruston and Greg Patinka in working with immigrants at the US–Mexico border, and hope to build our awareness and our partnership with them.
We continue to partner with others in supporting Afghan immigrants in settling in our community.

Ties that Bind

The old hymn begins, “Blessed be the ties that bind our hearts in Christian love…” It is a measure of God’s grace that we have continued to add to our congregation and to welcome new people even in this time of social and congregational transition. We hope that in 2023, we will be able to expand these offerings:

We have had several congregational potluck picnics and shared-work parties which included building air filters, dyeing Easter eggs, and making Christmas ornaments for our guests in the community meal and pantry.
We continue to expand our ministry of presence, building on the work of the prayer ministry and the card ministry to make sure that no one gets left behind, whether homebound, traveling, or going through a season of struggle and difficulty.
We work together with More Light Presbyterians toward the full participation of LGBTQIA+ people in the life, ministry, and witness of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — and in society.

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