Aldersgate’s annual Church Conference was held last Sunday, November 30, in conjunction with our brothers and sisters from West Chelmsford UMC and the UMC of Westford. Our District Superintendent, Rev. Megan Stowe, presided.
The Finance Committee presented the proposed 2026 AUMC budget which was presented and approved. The budget includes a 3% pay increase for all staff. The recommended $410,213 budget is, for the sixth year in a row, a deficit budget, with estimated expenses exceeding expected income by more than $37,600. That is a deficit of 9.2%. We are applying the remaining funds that we received due to some very generous unexpected donations during the pandemic to decrease the 2026 deficit to 4.3%. NOTE: This year, in 2025, we started the year with an even bigger deficit of 11.7% and benefited from the generosity of the congregation, as well as unallocated funds, to substantially decrease this year’s deficit to almost 1%. Please pray for continued wise stewardship in managing our financial resources to further Aldersgate’s ministry!
We also approved the slate of committee nominations for the coming year. We spent time brainstorming how the three churches could better use our combined resources and how to more effectively reach out in our communities to help others. If you have ideas in these areas, please contact Pastor John or Peter Smyton, Church Council chairperson.