ELCA Treasurer Expresses Concern For Mission Support Decline

MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Mission support income to the churchwide
organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
was $26 million through June 30, a decrease of $1 million from
one year ago and $1.5 million lower than budgeted. The decrease
of funds from congregations through synods "continues to be an
area of concern," said Christina Jackson-Skelton, ELCA treasurer,
in a written report.
Jackson-Skelton reported Aug. 10 to a joint meeting of the
ELCA Church Council and ELCA Conference of Bishops here,
preceding the ELCA Churchwide Assembly Aug. 11-17. Her report
included financial figures for the first five months of the ELCA
fiscal year ending June 30.
The decline in mission support is "widespread," Jackson-
Skelton reported. About 72 percent of the ELCA's 65 synods
indicate mission support to the churchwide organization is off
from one year ago, she said.
Through June 30, churchwide organization expenses exceeded
income by $3.7 million in current operating funds, Jackson-
Skelton said.
Offsetting income declines was significant underspending by
units of the churchwide organization. Though expenses exceeded
income through June 30, total expenses are $3.3 million less than
what was forecast, she noted.
"We may need to ask for additional underspending by units,"
Jackson-Skelton said.
Meanwhile, gifts to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal through
June 30 were $4.4 million, slightly less than they were one year
ago. Strong giving in June made up for a much larger deficit
earlier this year, said Jackson-Skelton. Giving should be close
to the forecast by the end of the summer, she said.
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Information on the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is available at http://www.elca.org/assembly03 on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news