ELCA Churchwide Organization Reduces Budget, Positions

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- As a result of a $1.2 million budget reduction approved April 5 by the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), six permanent employees of the ELCA churchwide organization will lose their positions. In addition, three permanent positions -- two that are vacant and a third in which the employee will retire soon -- will also be eliminated, and contracts for three term employees will soon end, said the Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive for administration and executive assistant to the ELCA presiding bishop.
The council action reduced the 2003 churchwide spending authorization for current funds to $83.6 million, and reduced the World Hunger program spending authorization to $16 million. The council, which serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies, met here April 4-6. The next assembly is Aug. 11-17, in Milwaukee.
Miller delivered the news in an April 7 message to ELCA churchwide staff, and joined other ELCA leaders in an April 8 meeting with staff.
"The harsh realities of the struggling domestic economy and a projected drop in income for the churchwide budget have required a revision of the 2003 spending plan for the churchwide organization," Miller said in his message to employees. "Sadly, this revised spending plan means the elimination of churchwide staff positions."
"I am very mindful that personnel decisions announced today will have a profound impact on the lives of individuals and families and on relationships among colleagues in the churchwide organization," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop. "Recognizing the loss, we pledge our continued prayers for those affected and express gratitude for their work. These are complex and challenging times in which by the Holy Spirit's power we are called to trust in God's promises and share God's love for the world."
Churchwide units have also been asked to underspend their 2003 budgets by a total of $555,000, Miller said. "This will be done by keeping existing vacant positions vacant and making further reductions in unit program budgets as well as in office supplies, printing, and staff travel," he said.
In addition to personnel cuts, several ELCA churchwide programs have been impacted by the financial reductions, Miller reported. They are:
+ Reducing Division for Outreach program funds for mission opportunities and fast- growth congregations
+ Reducing Division for Higher Education and Schools college and university grants
+ Reducing Division for Church in Society program funds for education and program resources
+ Eliminating Division for Global Mission support for the Rural Mission Center in Panama
+ Reducing Commission for Multicultural Ministries program funds and moving the source of funding for the director for racial justice ministries to a designated fund
+ Eliminating Department for Communication support for The Protestant Hour radio program, the print version of Voices of Congregational Life, and Resource Information Service temporary staff
+ Eliminating a churchwide subsidy for The Lutheran, the magazine of the ELCA
+ Eliminating strategy implementation grants administered by the Office of the Presiding Bishop
The total reductions for the 2003 churchwide budget, permanent and temporary, are $1,736,000, Miller added.
Women of the ELCA, a separately incorporated women's organization of the church, announced a reconfiguration of its work last week that resulted in elimination of positions held by seven employees, two temporary employees and one contract employee. The reconfiguration was reported to the organization's executive board.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html