By Holly Bussey, Congregational Engagement

The Finance Committee plays a key role in advancing our church’s mission: “Celebrate Life, Create Community, and Change the World.” It advises the Board on financial matters, underpins our long-term stability and growth, and helps congregants understand how our financial resources support our shared dreams and priorities.

Why Participate in Finance

Volunteering in finance offers a behind-the-scenes look at how work gets done. Whether you serve on the committee or help with a one-time project, you’ll gain insight into how the church bridges the gap between vision and reality. The work goes beyond balancing numbers; it debates how to raise funds and how to spend them, and monitors how congregants feel about those choices.

How Can You Participate?

One of the best ways to learn is to attend a Finance Committee meeting. Because the
committee works closely with other committees, ministries, and the board, you’ll see how the congregation functions as a whole.

There are also short-term projects. For example: assisting with stewardship mailings; researching and applying for grants; learning about the church’s income sources and expenses; and offering ideas on financial priorities. You can also attend the annual budget meeting in May to better understand the budget process and key funding areas.

For deeper involvement, the committee welcomes a member-at-large to attend monthly meetings. You may choose to shadow the current member-at-large or step into the role yourself. It’s a meaningful way to learn more about the church and to have a voice in how resources are raised and used.

The committee meets monthly via Zoom, and no financial expertise is required, just curiosity and a willingness to learn. To find out more, contact the committee at finance@uucwc.org.