SAN ANTONIO (ELCA) -- In the fiscal year that ended Jan. 31, income exceeded expenses by $2.9 million for the current operating funds of the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said Richard L. McAuliffe, ELCA treasurer. McAuliffe presented the report March 3 to the ELCA Conference of Bishops.
The Conference of Bishops is an advisory body of the ELCA's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary. Members met here March 1-6.
Receipts totaled $84.3 million for the fiscal year, up nearly 2 percent from the previous year, McAuliffe said. During the same period, expenses were $81.4 million, an increase of 1 percent over the previous year, he said.
Mission support from congregations -- funds shared by synods with the churchwide organization -- increased $1.4 million to total $69.4 million, McAuliffe said.
"Thank you for your leadership in the stewardship mission of the church," he told the bishops.
Contributions to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal were $15.9 million, down only slightly from record contributions in 1999, the appeal's 25th anniversary year, McAuliffe reported.
Following the report, the Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, bishop of the ELCA South Dakota Synod, asked if the actions of some congregations to withhold or redirect funds was affecting overall financial figures. A few congregations have expressed displeasure with a full communion agreement of the ELCA with the Episcopal Church by withholding or redirecting mission support dollars.
Some impact has been reported in some synods from such actions, McAuliffe said.
When it meets April 6-9, the ELCA Church Council is expected to authorize spending levels for the present fiscal year, based on income forecasts, McAuliffe added.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
