ELCA Bishops Told Fiscal 2002 Results 'Mixed'

CHARLESTON, S.C. (ELCA) -- Unaudited financial results for the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for 2002 were "mixed," according to a report presented to the ELCA Conference of Bishops here. Receipts declined $3.7 million in 2002 compared to 2001, but a mid-year spending reduction in 2002 helped the ELCA churchwide organization finish the fiscal year with a small surplus.
In addition, contributions to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal totaled $16.0 million, $400,000 more than was contributed in fiscal 2001, said Christina Jackson-Skelton, ELCA treasurer, in her report to the bishops.
The ELCA is organized into 65 synods, each headed by a bishop. The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body to the church, consisting of the church's 65 synod bishops, ELCA presiding bishop and ELCA secretary. The conference met here March 6-11.
"There were several challenges this year related to the [U.S.] economy," Jackson-Skelton said.
The ELCA's 2002 fiscal year ended Jan. 31. Receipts totaled $82.9 million for fiscal 2002, compared with $86.6 million the previous fiscal year, a decline of 4.2 percent, Jackson-Skelton said. However, current operating expenses were $82.1 million, down $1.2 million or 1.5 percent from the previous fiscal year, she said.
Mission support -- dollars from congregations that are shared with the churchwide organization through synods -- declined in 2002, Jackson- Skelton said. Mission support was $68.8 million, compared with $69.5 million in 2001, she reported. Other funds, temporarily restricted and unrestricted, were $14.2 million for 2002, nearly $3 million less than was available in 2001. These include funds for missionary sponsorship, gifts from bequests and trusts, and endowments, grants, investment and other income, Jackson-Skelton said.
Though other income categories improved the second half of 2002, "mission support revenue weakened and ended significantly under expected levels," she said.
The surprisingly good news came with results for the World Hunger Appeal, Jackson-Skelton said. "The last day [of the fiscal year] we were posting income, more than $1.2 million came in," she told the bishops. "It was a cause for joy. Thank you for your help and leadership in raising money for the World Hunger Appeal."
Financial gifts for "Stand With Africa," a ministry aimed at raising attention to health and justice issues in Africa, were $1 million for fiscal 2002, while gifts for disaster response were $2.4 million, Jackson-Skelton said.
"World Hunger income closed strongly and surpassed all prior year income totals for the general appeal, while also increasing support for the Stand With Africa appeal by more than 200 percent to $1 million," she said.
In a related discussion, the Rev. Mark R. Moller-Gunderson, executive director, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries, said 83.3 percent of the churchwide organization's current operating fund consists of mission support dollars from the church's 10,776 congregations through synods.
"That is unique among all denominations," he said.
Moller-Gunderson thanked the bishops for their "personal efforts" in encouraging congregations to support the work of the church financially.
The leadership of the bishops and direct communication with congregations is important to financial support for the church, Moller- Gunderson said. "When you are present [in congregations], there are significant differences in levels of mission support," he said.
"I know this has not been an easy year," Moller-Gunderson said. "You have stretched yourselves on behalf of the whole church."

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