Willow Creek Giving Down 2%; Has Cut 42 Staff Positions
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Wed, August 26, 2009
- Viewed 103
- (9) comments so far
Willow Creek has been hit hard this year... I've heard the stories, but this is the first time I've seen it officially in print...
Willow Creek Community Church, which has up to 19,000 attendees at its three weekend services, reduced its $30-million budget for its main campus, in South Barrington. That included cutting 42 positions from its staff of 450. Demand for food from the church's pantry and help with mortgage and utility payments is exploding, while offerings have dropped about 2%.
QUESTION: How has the economy affected your budget/staffing. Please respond with budget % increase/decrease; and the number of staff increase/decrease; along with your city/state.
Comments
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Tom Doidge on Wed, August 26, 2009
Giving down 2% but they cut almost 10% of their staff? Seems there is more to the story doesn’t it? Nonetheless it saddens me.
bishopdave on Wed, August 26, 2009
It’s been strangely blessed. Our offerings have outpaced expenses by almost $15k, almost unheard of in a GOOD economic climate for a church our size; yet our offerings are $13K below last year at this time. What a mighty God we serve.
Leonard on Wed, August 26, 2009
We have been hit pretty hard, we have a alot of new and young believers whose discipline of generosity has not yet developed. Laying off 42 staff could easily mean they cut all their 10 - 20 hour a week employees. It may not mean they cut 42 full time positions.
Side note: Todd, I really like what you have done here and welcome back!
Peter Hamm on Wed, August 26, 2009
First, they are perhaps also trying to get their personnel spending in line with their goal of 50% or less. But no doubt this will give the scoffers a chance to predict their doom and demise…
Second, how do I get a really cool avatar (not like that silly bird kissing thing, though, Leonard…) instead of that stupid symbol?
Leonard on Wed, August 26, 2009
Peter, that is a pretty classy avitar, they only give those to senior pastors.
Big Mike on Wed, August 26, 2009
“Giving down 2% but they cut almost 10% of their staff? Seems there is more to the story doesn�t it?”
@Tom Doidge. Yes, there is more to the story… The “more to the story” information that you must have to accurately and fairly come to any conclusions, is what percentage of their overall salary do those 42 staff members represent. They didnt get rid of 10% of their FULL time staff. Couple that with this quote…“Demand for food from the church’s pantry and help with mortgage and utility payments is exploding” and there is the rest of the story.
CS on Wed, August 26, 2009
Peter:
“First, they are perhaps also trying to get their personnel spending in line with their goal of 50% or less. But no doubt this will give the scoffers a chance to predict their doom and demise�”
I wouldn’t say that this would lead to their doom and demise at all. I honestly can’t see Willow Creek outright failing, simply due to their membership numbers and support from all the WCA churches out there. A drop in tithing should not annihilate this giant, unless they were really, really bad in budgeting. But, there are occasional cracks that open up and expose some things in their system; that’s as far as I would go.
(And welcome back, Todd. I’ll have to get used to the new site.)
—
CS
Peter Hamm on Wed, August 26, 2009
Aw come on… I want an avatar… and you’re making fun of me, Leonard…
Brian L. on Wed, August 26, 2009
Ditto on the avatar thingy!
Giving was way down for us last year, approx. 25%, although we grew in Sunday morning attendance by 20%.
We trimmed our budget (including my declining a COL increase). I am the only staff member. We asked God to provide a 5% increase in our general giving from last year (just under $70K) to cover what we believed God wants us to do this year, and He seems to be doing that and more.
Our church year started in May, and already we’ve gotten $7500 in gifts from people who don’t even attend our church (including a guest this last Sunday who wanted to help us finish major parking lot repairs).
Looks like He’s going to take care of us…again.
He is good!
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