wfn.org | Reserve Dollars must Cover Assembly Actions

[PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org]

09-July-1996 
 
GA96120    Reserve Dollars must Cover Assembly Actions  
 
ALBUQUERQUE--Per capita ($4.52 per member) will not be raised for 1997 even 
though funding of some Assembly actions is on hold. 
 
     Assembly actions approved for current funding will require an 
additional $125,084 before the end of 1996, an amount which will have to 
come from reserves since most of 1996 per capita income is already in hand 
at the above rate. 
 
     These same actions will add $78,668 in l997, but will save $9124 in 
1998. A saving will be realized in both  97 and  98 due to transfer of 
funding for the council of military chaplains from per capita to mission 
budgets. 
 
     A major part of additional funds needed this year is $41,750 to fund 
25 newly-elected presbytery slots on the General Assembly Council. Related 
GA nominating committee costs will add $28,190. Congregational and 
governmental communications on various matters total $11,400 and 
publication/distribution of two major documents adds $40,000. Letters to 
congregations, the U.S.  and other governments on  various matters makes up 
the rest.  
 
     Actions on hold are Assembly-approved resolutions  that could cost an 
additional $198,550 but  will be funded this year only if additional funds 
come in or through negotiation and  concurrence of the joint per capita 
budget table team of the General Assebly Council and the office of the 
General Assembly. 
 
     These include $125,000 for a consulting firm to analyze and recommend 
changes in the office of the executive director of the GAC. A committee to 
implement this action would add $10,425. A two-year, nine-member committee 
to review middle governing body relationship would add $20,825, while a 
task force to develop relations with church-related groups would require 
19,350. 
 
     Some objections to the per capita budgetary implication report brought 
Saturday morning to the Assembly's final session brought objections on 
grounds that it compromised the effectiveness and integrity of other 
committee actions.  
 
     Sue Dallam, moderator of the General Assembly Procedures committee 
that brought the report reminded commissioners that "per capita is the 
price of privilege of being Presbyterian. She reported $450,000 to be 
unpaid in $1995 and implored commissioners to "go home and persuade 
presbyteries to work with congregations toward paying  full per capita 
apportionment. 
 
Midge Mack 

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