wfn.org | ELCA Church Council Approves 1998-99 Budget

[Brenda Williams <BRENDAW@elca.org>]

Reply-To: ElcaNews <ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG>
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 24, 1997

ELCA CHURCH COUNCIL APPROVES 1998-99 BUDGETS
97-34-099-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, meeting
here Nov. 14-16, approved the church's 1998
fiscal-year spending authorization of $77.5
million.  The council also approved an initial
Mission Operating Fund allocation of $1 million;
an Expanded Ministry Fund of $200,000; and a 1998
World hunger spending authorization of $12.4
million.
     "This year things are reasonably okay," said
Sandra G. Gustavson, Athens, Ga.  Gustavson serves
as chair for the council's budget and finance
committee.
     During the ELCA's fifth biennial Churchwide
Assembly in Philadelphia Aug. 14-20, voting
members approved a 1998 spending plan of $77.5
million and of $78.2 million for 1999.  The ELCA
approves its annual budget two at a time, since
the biennial assemblies must approve them in
advance.
     Support for the ELCA's ministry -- much of
which funds global mission work, the theological
education of new pastors, and the planning of new
U.S. congregations -- originates in nearly 11,000
Lutheran congregations.  Funds are sent to 65
regional synods, each of which forwards an average
of 55 percent to the ELCA for its budgeted
programs.
     An initial amount of $700,000 was allocated
to begin the process of implementation of the
"Initiatives to Prepare for a New Century," which
were affirmed by the Assembly.  The Initiatives
are a catalyst for Lutherans to deepen worship
life, teach the faith, witness to God's action in
the world, strengthen one another in mission, help
the children, connect with youth and young adults,
and develop leaders for the next century.
     The 1997 ELCA budget includes a $400,000 line
for "Expanded Ministry."  This money is to be
allocated by the Church Council, upon
recommendation of the bishop of this church, "if
actual income received in 1997 warrants such an
allocation."  The approach funding expanded
ministry is to provide "flexibility to deal with
the uncertainties" of income projections and to
provide "a degree of flexibility in establishing
priorties."  The council approved the allocation
of the 1997 Expanded Ministry Fund, as recommended
by the bishop of the ELCA.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or
NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html