Parish Administrator Report – Joan Christensen                                                                       1/13/04

 

 

  1. Audit

The audit for FY2003 is complete.  Their report is attached to this report.  It will be included in the packet for the Congregational Meeting.  If desired by Council, a representative from the audit committee can come to a council meeting to report on the audit, but there were very minor findings from this year's audit, so unless Council requests it, they will simply report in writing.

 

  1. Designated Offering –

We received over $1,600 in donations for the New Life Band in December.  They were at Bethel three times in December to help lead worship, including Christmas Day.

January's designation is for the Navajo Lutheran Mission in Arizona.

Pastor Rick has proposed designations for the remainder of the year, in keeping with previous year's designations.  I will present these to the Ministry Leads this month.  We have left two months open for needs which we become aware of during the year, and any of these can be changed if something comes up, but this would allow us to move forward without having to make a decision each month.

Proposed Designated Offerings:

January 04: Navajo Lutheran Mission

February 04: Kurt & Karyn Morrill, InterVarsity missionaries to Muslim students in France

March 04: Mount Cross Scholarship Fund

April 04: Esperanza

May 04: MaaSae Girls' School student support

June 04: Advent Group Ministries

July 04: Cupertino Community Services

August 04: (open)

September 04: Lutheran World Relief

October 04: SJ Family Shelter and Gloria Dei Lord's Pantry

November 04: Family Aid Fund

December 04: (open)

 

  1. Budget Review

In reviewing spending and available funds for the remainder of the year, I do not expect there to be a large adjustment to make in spending for the remainder of the year, without a major change of some kind.  Income is approximately $20,000 behind budget through December, and expenses are $37,000 behind.  The largest portion of that lag in spending will not be spent, which will cover most of our budgeted deficit.  Ministry budgets have been cut so much in the past few years that there is very little left to cut, without changing a major expense such as staffing.  Our projection is that if income meets budget for the remainder of the year, we will end the year very close to "break even".

 

 

Recent Designated Offerings:

December 03: New Life Band from Tanzania

November 03: Family Aid Fund   

October 03: Seminarians              

September 03: Lutheran World Relief

August 03: Help One Child

July 03: Labor Day Retreat HUG funds

June 03: Confirmation retreat scholarships 

May 03: Mount Cross outdoor stage project

April 03: Esperanza

March 03: Maasae Girls’ School student support
February 03: Local Emergency Housing Shelters

January 03: Kurt & Karyn Morrill, missionaries to Muslims in France

December 02: San Jose Family Shelter/ Gloria Dei Lord’s Pantry

 

 

 

BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL

AUDIT REPORT – January 7, 2004

 

The Bethel Audit Committee, Susan Horvath, David Lofgren and Tom Woodell, with the help of Joan Christensen and Carol Mahoney, has completed the internal audit of Bethel's financial statements, processes and procedures for FY03 (7/1/02 to 6/30/03).

 

The Profit and Loss Statement is summarized as follows:

                                   CHURCH         SCHOOL

Total Income               $850,674           $1,694,194

Total Expenses             882,786             1,682,574

Net Income (Loss)       ($32,111)              $11,620

 

At year-end, the unrestricted cash available for the Church was $46,934 and was $11,620 for the School.

 

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

Capital expenditures for FY03 were $88,994 for the Church and School combined. The primary expenditures were for:

                                                      School Playground Equipment                      $67,921

                        Apple iBook for staff                                        2,198

                        HVAC Improvements Zoar/Torvend              11,200

                        Principal's laptop                                               4,206

                        Altar/Advent Candleholders                              3,469

                       

BENEVOLENCES

Bethel contributed $84,993 during FY03 for benevolences, including both contributions based on General Fund giving and Designated Offerings. The largest contributions, aside from those to the Synod and National Church, went to support ELCA missionaries Eric and Beth Hanson, to Mount Cross Lutheran Camp and Esperanza, the organization through which our youth and adult Missions to Mexico are sponsored.  In total, over 30 organizations received contributions from Bethel.

 

LOAN SUMMARY

As of 6/30/03 Bethel's total interest bearing debt was $355,651, our primary mortgage through Thrivent Financial @7.125%.

 

THE FOLLOWING WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND/OR REVIEWED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE:

* Reviewed and closed out audit recommendations from earlier fiscal years.

* Audit bank statement reconciliations.

* Review payroll records comparing gross to expensed.

* Confirm canceled checks and sample authorization, receipts, clearing and procedures.

* Review general ledger for correct allocations.

* Review all voided checks and checks greater than 6 months old.

* Capitalize any new buildings, furnishings, equipment and major leasehold improvements and repairs.

* Review the Youth Ministry checking account.

* Review all restricted funds.

* Review tithing disbursements and procedures.

* Review offering count/deposit procedures.

* Review contracts, leases, mortgages, notes and titles.

* Make year-end adjusting entries and close the books for FY03.

 

 

 

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

Bank Statement Review:

 

"Proof of Cash"

 

Verification of check and authorization procedures

 

Transaction Register Review

 

Tithing procedure

 

Contracts, leases review

 

Review assets, book value, depreciation

 

Accounting Procedures Manual

 

 

 

 

 

 

Submitted by:

 

 

____________________                    _____________________                  ____________________

Susan Horvath                                    David Lofgren                                     Tom Woodell