Thank you for asking about the Annual Program Fund (APF) - I was delighted to wear the Ten+ Year Honor Society button at GA this year. The APF is an important part of our Unitarian Universalist Association and my congregation has been consistently supporting the Annual Program Fund for over a decade. (You can see a report on congregational giving for last year, 2006 -2007, at http://www.uua.org/documents/uua/071107_annualreportongiving.pdf .  The First Unitarian Church of Dallas is listed on page 7.  An updated list for 2007-2008 should be posted in the fall.)

We were able to do this because it is an important part of our stewardship policy. While we have the same financial stresses and strains on our budget as any growing congregation, by inviting our Board of Trustees to define the "ends" (the purposes for which we exist) our governance process made it clear to us the growth of Unitarian Universalism is much more than about our congregational experience in Dallas -- it is very much about the progress of the greater Unitarian Universalist Association.

As President, I think the best ways to encourage right relationship with the APF and the UUA are: first, to set a good example of stewardship at all levels and second, to herald the many exemplary congregations which make their honor society status with the UUA an ethical commitment. Interestingly, once committed to this path, most congregations are able to fulfill their APF contribution, increase it to the fair-share level over time and find it aligns with their local stewardship programs in supporting meaningful growth at home.

I must say, I could not in good conscience put myself forward as a candidate for President of the UUA without being in right relationship with the Annual Program Fund and the UUA. It's that important.