Income of ELCA Congregations Almost $2.5 Billion in 2001

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Income for the 10,766 congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 2001 reached nearly $2.5 billion.
Total receipts amounted to $2,452,431,397, up nearly $65 million or 2.7 percent from 2000, the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary, reported in the annual tabulation of 2001 statistics from congregations.
Of the total congregational income, $1,662,941,149 was received in regular, unrestricted offerings -- up $56,291,330 or 3.5 percent. For 2000, the percent increase in regular giving by members over 1999 was six percent.
Funds held by congregations in endowments and investments exceeded regular giving in 2001. Almen called that "a new development." Congregations held $1,678,014,541 in savings and investments, endowments, and memorial funds -- up $57,708,626 from 2000.
The average regular giving per confirmed member increased from $506.90 in 2000 to $526.11 -- up 3.78 percent or an increase per confirmed member of $19.21.
The growth in giving by members to congregations was significant, Almen observed. Congregations received a total of $47,428,802 more in receipts than they spent in disbursements in 2001.
Total disbursements by ELCA congregations for local operating expenses amounted to $1,576,765,989. That represented an increase of $77,771,455 or 5.18 percent over 2000.
Regular "mission support" -- monies passed from congregations to the ELCA's 65 synods and the churchwide organization to support the national and international ministries of this church -- increased 1.66 percent. Actual "mission-support" funding for 2001 was $135,520,471 -- up $2,214,081 from $133,306,390 in 2000.
"Specific Mission Support," formerly called Designated Gifts, decreased 6.24 percent -- from $11,561,014 in 2000 to $10,839,409 in 2001. Contributions to the World Hunger Appeal and Disaster Response fund increased $4 million, primarily in response to the Sept. 11 attack on the New York World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon. Total amount reported by congregations for World Hunger and Disaster Response in 2001 was $16,689,496.
"Vision for Mission," an annual special appeal of this church, decreased 14.5 percent -- from a total of $386,655 reported by congregations in 2000 to $330,561 in 2001.
Funding for missionary sponsorship declined 1.23 percent in 2001. The actual figure for missionary sponsorship was reported at $5,807,920, down $72,425. Mission Partners giving also decreased 1.06 percent in 2001 to $4,745,232.
Synodically related "Special Benevolences" increased 6.74 percent -- from $16,929,729 in 2000 to $18,072,2 06 in 2001. Income for community benevolent causes was up $1,815,393 or six percent to $32,212,228 in 2001.
Congregations reported a 12.3 percent increase in other expenses, up $11,430,399 to $104,320,254. About 63.8 percent of ELCA congregations reported that they had no debt in 2001.
The number of bequests received by congregations decreased 1,203 to 4,744 and amounted to $90,543,760 -- down 5.27 percent in 2001 from 2000.
Of the total income of ELCA congregations, 90 percent was devoted to operating expenses, capital improvements, debt reduction and other expenses. Congregations contributed 7.86 percent for synodical and churchwide mission support, hunger and disaster appeals, missionary sponsorship, Mission Partners and designated causes. The remainder supported synodical and local benevolences. -- -- --
A table of ELCA statistical information is maintained at http://www.elca.org/co/news/table.html on the Web.

* The Rev. Lowell G. Almen is secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.

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