wfn.org | Moderator's Letter to the Church

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

19-March-1997 
97133 
 
                Moderator's Letter to the Church 
                     on the Bicentennial Fund 
 
                   by the Rev. John M. Buchanan 
 
[Editor's note: After last summer's General Assembly directed it's 
moderator, the Rev. John M.  Buchanan, to send a pastoral letter to all 
congregations encouraging the church to fulfill its obligations to The 
Bicentennial Fund, the Presbyterian News Service agreed to provide space 
for Buchanan's letter in "NEWS BRIEFS" as the most cost-effective way to 
distribute it. -- Jerry L. Van Marter] 
 
March 17, 1997 
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters, 
 
In 1988, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) launched a brave new venture. 
The Bicentennial Fund was planned to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the 
first meeting of the Presbyterian General Assembly in 1789, and to lift up 
for the whole Presbyterian family the wonderful new reality of a reunited 
Presbyterian Church.  Leaders hoped that a churchwide effort to support 
ongoing mission work and initiate new mission projects would be an exciting 
way to respond faithfully and joyfully to our Lord's mandate to "go into 
all the world" -- for the first time in a century and a quarter -- as one, 
unified Presbyterian Church. 
 
"We are a covenant people, claimed in love by the living God, called by the 
Holy Spirit, and committed to making an effective witness in the name of 
Jesus Christ."  With that opening mission statement for The Bicentennial 
Fund initiative, synods and presbyteries validated thousands of projects 
and the General Assembly approved a Common Prospectus of hundreds of worthy 
projects around the world. 
 
I am writing to express my respect and gratitude for your participation. 
At the end of 1996, 6,022 of our 11,400 congregations had participated in 
The Bicentennial Fund, remitting $61 million toward pledges of $74 million. 
An additional $11 million has been given by churches and individuals who 
did not make pledges. 
 
Approximately $13 million is still outstanding.  The 208th General Assembly 
instructed its moderator to "encourage the church at large to continue to 
fulfill its obligation to The Bicentennial Fund."  And, in addition to 
thanking you for your support, that is what I am doing. 
 
"We are a covenant people."  My congregation, the Fourth Presbyterian 
Church of Chicago, made a commitment to The Bicentennial Fund as a part of 
a recent major capital campaign effort and at the end of 1996 made its 
final payment to fulfill its covenant.  Our gifts helped the First 
Presbyterian Church of Chicago to restore its sanctuary.  Central City 
Housing Ventures built a transitional shelter for homeless people and the 
Center for Whole Life at Cabrini Green. 
 
If your congregation has an outstanding balance, I encourage you to fulfill 
your covenant.  Please  keep this great adventure in front of your people, 
thanking them for their generosity and sharing with them important 
information about mission projects available in "Presbyterians Today" and 
synod newsletters. A staff consultant can research your particular 
questions about Bicentennial Fund projects.  Call 1-800-832-3482. 
 
The Bicentennial Fund will continue to receive and disburse mission money 
through our elected Allocation and Accountability Committees.  Every dollar 
we give expresses our response to God's  grace and our commitment to the 
mission of Jesus Christ in the world. 
 
May God's blessing and peace by yours and may our mission covenant be a 
source of energy and joy in the life of your congregation. 
 
Faithfully, 
 
John M. Buchanan 
Moderator 

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