CANTON -- At their annual budget meeting after Sunday service on Jan. 27, members of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton unanimously approved the largest budget in the church’s history – nearly $290,000.

The budget vote caps a record-breaking annual pledge campaign and opens the door for hiring two new part-time staff positions that will focus on religious education and social justice.

“We had a wonderfully generous response to this year’s pledge campaign,” says Jenn Whittaker, who chaired the Canvass Committee with Pete Wyckoff. “With pledges from members and friends in the community we raised $264,784 to support the church’s $288,916 2019 operating budget.”

“And we had a lot of help getting there,” said Wyckoff. “Thirty-three church members personally called on 108 members and friends to talk about their pledges to support the church’s annual budget. On top of that, 10 canvassers made more than 60 phone calls to talk to folks about their pledges.”

As the canvass was nearing the finish line, long-time members Carol and Tim Opdyke posed a challenge: If the congregation raised enough in pledges to fund a budget that included one of the two new part-time positions, the Opdykes would cover the cost of the second for two years. “The response was astounding,” says Whittaker. “We soared past our $260,000 goal”

“Here at the UU church in Canton, our mission is to create a welcoming, compassionate faith community, committed to social justice and open to wonder,” explains the Rev. James Galasinski, the church’s minister. “The focus of this year’s canvass was to make that ‘mission possible,’ and a big step toward that is adding staff who will strengthen our religious education and social justice efforts.”

“Our denomination and our congregation believe religious education for all ages, and at all life stages, is essential, and social justice is central to our ministry,” says Galasinski. “Two new part-time positions will help us meet our mission with our 200-member congregation.”

Job descriptions for the 10-hour-a-week religious education assistant and social justice positions will be posted at www.uucantonny.org soon.

The Unitarian Universalist Church, is located at 3½ East Main St., across from the park. Sunday services and religious education for children and youth begin at 10:30 a.m. More information can be found at www.uucantonny.org.