Treasurers’ Meeting Summary (April 22, 2026)

 

1. Cooperative Parish Structure

  • Beginning in July, the four churches will form a 100% cooperative parish.
  • Rev. Craig Taylor will serve as the pastor of the parish.
  • This model is similar to the current shared ministry but will be more unified in structure.

 

2. Financial Structure

  • Houlton United Methodist Church will serve as the central (paying) church.
  • Houlton will receive and pay all pastoral-related expenses, including:
    • Salary
    • Health insurance
    • Pension
    • CPP (Comprehensive Protection Plan)
    • Workers’ compensation (if applicable)
  • The other three churches (Stetson Memorial, Mars Hill, Hodgdon) will send their contributions to Houlton.

 

3. Contribution Amounts

  • Annual contributions (including reimbursables):
    • Stetson Memorial: $24,127
    • Mars Hill: $14,441
    • Hodgdon: $14,441
  • Payments can be made:
    • Monthly (recommended baseline), or

    • Quarterly (if preferred by individual churches)

 

 

4. Payment Process

  • Payments should begin end of June, so funds are available for July expenses.
  • Checks should be made payable to:
    • Houlton United Methodist Church

57 Military Street, Houlton, ME 04730

  • Recommendation:
    • Set up a designated parish account at Houlton for pastoral compensation and benefits.
    • This account will receive all church contributions and be used for conference withdrawals (ACH).

 

5. Reimbursements

  • Reimbursable funds will be included in contributions.
  • The treasurer at Houlton will handle reimbursements to the pastor as needed.

 

6. Salary Adjustment Rationale

  • Previous combined salaries exceeded sustainable levels (~$75,000 total).
  • Salaries were adjusted downward to allow inclusion of full benefits without overburdening churches.

 

7. Additional Notes

  • Property insurance and mission shares remain the responsibility of each local church.
  • This cooperative parish model is being introduced in multiple places across the conference.
  • Rev. Craig Taylor brings prior experience serving in a cooperative parish.

 

8. Administrative Items

  • Payroll setup is in progress (I-9 completed).
  • Housing allowance ($5,000) has been designated.

 

9. Questions & Follow-ups

  • Flexibility allowed for payment frequency (monthly or quarterly).
  • Conference office will follow up regarding:
    • “Certificate of Good Standing” request for Stetson Memorial (bank requirement).

 

10. Other Matters

  • Guest preachers for June: A list of lay speakers will be shared.
  • Upcoming visit: Rev. Rick McKinley scheduled to preach on June 28.

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