CHICAGO (ELCA) -- While total revenue was up $316,000, funds received for mission support from congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) were down $713,000 for the first seven months of the current fiscal year which began Feb. 1, said Richard L. McAuliffe, ELCA treasurer, in a report to the ELCA Conference of Bishops.
Revenue for the seven-month period ending Aug. 31 was nearly $46.4 million, compared to nearly $46.1 million for the same period in 2000, he said. Income from the ELCA's 10,816 congregations through 65 synods in the form of mission support was nearly $37.2 million, compared to almost $37.9 million the previous year, McAuliffe said.
McAuliffe reported to the ELCA Conference of Bishops during its Oct. 4-9 meeting here. The Conference of bishops includes the church's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary.
In addition, McAuliffe reported an increase of $1.03 million in other income to the church for the seven-month period ending Aug. 31. A significant reason for the increase was income from bequests and other gifts to the church, he said. Contributions to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal were $6.55 million, down slightly from the same period in 2000. ELCA Disaster Response funds received through Aug. 31 were nearly $1.5 million, McAuliffe said.
Following a brief discussion later in the meeting, the Rev. Mark R. Moller-Gunderson, executive director, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries, and ELCA director for mission support, asked the bishops to choose from a list of possible reasons for the $713,000 decline in mission support. The three reasons chosen most often by the bishops were congregations' increasing costs for health care premiums, high utility costs in congregations and the general decline in the U.S. economy.
PRESIDING BISHOP-ELECT OUTLINES CHALLENGES FOR ELCA
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop-elect, told the bishops about a number of challenges and concerns for the ELCA that he is aware of as he prepares to assume the role of presiding bishop Nov. 1.
"One of my biggest fears about this call is the fear of isolation," he said. Hanson said he needs advice and counsel from the bishops. Other issues he raised were:
+ the challenge that the church be able to have "deep disagreements and lively discourse" that don't tear the ELCA apart;
+ the challenge that the ELCA engage in planning that will bring the church to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly with "clarity and focus on mission;"
+ the challenge of giving "face and focus" to the churchwide organization;
+ the challenge of undertaking a study of homosexuality in a way that builds trust and openness in the ELCA;
+ the challenge of allowing the presiding bishop to be a servant leader instead of a "lightning rod" for the ELCA; and
+ the challenge of allowing the presiding bishop to lead the church versus representing it.
OFFICIAL OBSERVERS MAY BE AT UPCOMING ASSEMBLIES
The ELCA Office of the Secretary will develop a proposal on the establishment of an "official observer" category at ELCA churchwide assemblies, said the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary. The churchwide assembly, held every other year, is the chief legislative authority of the church. The next assembly is in August 2003 in Milwaukee.
The idea is "to provide encouragement to congregations to send their pastors to observe the process of the assembly," Almen said. In addition to learning about the assembly process, resources would be made available to official observers, he said. Having official observers would "underscore the sense of welcome" at an assembly, Almen told the Conference of Bishops.
The proposal will be refined and distributed to the Church Council and Conference of Bishops before the 2003 assembly, Almen said. "It will require no change in [ELCA constitutional] bylaws or continuing resolutions," he added.
DIACONAL MINISTRY DRAFT DOCUMENT PRESENTED
Dr. Lake Lambert III, assistant professor in religion, Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, presented a draft version of "Called to Serve: Diaconal Ministry in the ELCA," a document outlining the history, opportunity and challenges of diaconal ministry in the Lutheran church.
According to Lambert, the church is "engaged in a process of defining what [diaconal] ministry is, since it is so new." Lambert said progress has been made on diaconal ministers taking greater responsibility as "a community for the interpretation of diaconal ministry to the whole church."
"Diaconal" comes from the same Greek word as "deacon" diakonia meaning "service" or "ministry." An ELCA bylaw says, "Diaconal ministers shall seek in a great variety of ways to empower, equip and support all the baptized people of God in the ministry of Jesus Christ and the mission of God in the world." Currently, there are 45 diaconal ministers in the ELCA.
Wartburg College is one of the ELCA's 28 colleges and universities.
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
