Dear People of St. James’,
We’re Jeff Cox, chair of the Vestry Finance Committee (VFC), and Jim Burgess, a member-at-large of the VFC. We’re pleased to share with you an update on St. James’ financial health and some exciting things happening as we move through 2025.
At St. James’, we seek to set tables of welcome where all can encounter Christ’s love. Everything we do, including how we plan and spend our budget, is rooted in that vision.
Looking back on 2024, we have so much to be grateful for. Thanks to the generosity of this community and God’s provision, we ended the year with a surplus. That allowed us to strengthen our Rainy-Day Fund and other savings and to address some needs in the parish. (We can share a list if folks are curious!)
Echoing our presentation at the Annual Parish Meeting in January, our 2025 budget highlights include full-year salary funding for our Associate Rector and Curate (last year was partial), as well as our new Director of Music (not a new position). We’re thrilled to have Father George and Reverend Addison on board—they are helping us connect more deeply with our Spanish-speaking members and with young adults and students at Huston-Tillotson University. We’re already seeing wonderful growth and engagement in those areas! Our Director of Music, Rick Gabrillo, brings extraordinary gifts to worship and leads our 10:30 choir with passion and vision.
How are we doing financially so far in 2025?
We are pleased to report that as of the end of March, our overall income is right on target and our expenses are slightly below budget. (See table below)
Pledges remain strong, and we are closely monitoring Operating Contributions and Loose Plate income, both of which are currently tracking slightly below plan. We remain attentive and proactive in our approach.
While we’re on the topic of pledges—thank you to our generous pledge community. Your commitments and automated giving provide a level of financial stability that allows St. James’ to plan confidently and steward resources wisely throughout the year.
If you haven’t yet automated your giving, we encourage you to consider this simple step. It makes a meaningful difference in our ability to manage and forecast the church’s finances responsibly. Pledges are welcomed at any time during the year, and Aimee Estep in the church office is available to assist you. You can also learn more about automated giving through the link below:
https://stjamesaustin.org/give/
In the first quarter, the generosity of our congregation in calls to giving beyond the operating budget enabled St. James’ to support several ministries with deep community impact, including Welcome Table (through the annual Amplify Austin campaign) and the Migration with Dignity Emergency Fund—each a reflection of our shared commitment to serving others.
Thank you, St. James’, for your faithful and consistent giving.
Finally, we recognize the economic challenges that many in our community are currently facing. The Finance Committee is monitoring conditions closely and stands ready to recommend adjustments if necessary. We are grateful to report that St. James’ is in a sound financial position today. And if challenges arise, we are confident in the church’s ability to respond thoughtfully and faithfully—just as it has in the past.
Looking ahead, there’s a lot to be hopeful about.
We’re continuing to shape our Strategic Plan for the future, with a focus on 2026–2030. This plan will guide how we grow and serve as a church in the years to come. The VFC will also be doing some deep-dive stewardship work, including:
- Evaluating clergy and staff compensation to ensure it’s fair and sustainable
- Undergoing a full financial audit, a best-practice for non-profit organizations of our size
- Reviewing how we manage our growing endowment
- Exploring new grant opportunities
We encourage you to keep reading the weekly St. James’ e-news for updates and ways to be involved. Most importantly: thank you. Your generosity fuels everything we do together—from worship to outreach, from music to ministry.
Finally, know this: your Vestry Finance Committee, your vestry members, and our clergy are working with great care to support the health of our community—financially, physically, and spiritually.
We are so thankful for our clergy, staff, volunteers, and every one of you who makes St. James’ the welcoming and dynamic place that it is.
With gratitude,
The Vestry Finance Committee
