CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received reports
Aug. 8 on the financial status of the denomination and of the
Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall.
About 2,000 people are participating, including 1,071 ELCA voting
members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's
Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
"Over the past two and a half years, we have seen quite
favorable financial results, including increasing operating
income, increasing world hunger income and unprecedented giving
to disaster response," said Christina Jackson-Skelton, ELCA
treasurer.
In 2006 mission support -- unrestricted income from
congregations through the 65 synods of the ELCA to the churchwide
organization -- increased for the first time since 2001. Jackson-
Skelton cautioned that "the level of increases is not yet
sufficient to maintain the real value of our grants and other
supports."
In contrast, she also highlighted generous giving to the
ELCA World Hunger Appeal and Lutheran Disaster Response, noting
that fiscal year 2006 saw "the largest single-year increase in
World Hunger receipts since 1999" and that between fiscal years
2005 and 2006, an unprecedented $46.2 million was received for
disaster response. Of the money received for disaster response,
$31.8 million was designated for response to the Gulf Coast
hurricanes, she said.
ELCA Mission Investment Fund
"The Mission Investment Fund has experienced significant
growth over the past biennium," said the Rev. Arnold O. Pierson,
vice president of church relations and communication, ELCA
Mission Investment Fund (MIF). "Total investments increased over
the 2005 and 2006 fiscal years, reaching a high of $335 million
mid-2006 and closing the year at $327 million."
The MIF's primary mission is to provide low-interest loans
to mission congregations to purchase land and construct church
buildings, and to established ELCA congregations for renovation,
expansion and relocation projects.
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Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be
found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
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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
