wfn.org | Danish mission societies suffer decline in income

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

COPENHAGEN, Denmark/GENEVA, 30 April 1998 (lwi) - Five of the largest
mission societies in Denmark suffered a serious decline in income for 1997.
One of them is close to bankruptcy, according to the information service of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark. The lack of funds is explained,
among various reasons, by the diminishing number of donations toward
missionary work, on the one hand, and the climbing costs of sending out
missionaries, on the other, says the April 25 communique.

In reaction to the deficit, chairperson of the Danish Missionary Council,
Knud Sorensen, says the societies must limit their activities. He admits
this is not an easy path for societies who almost by tradition increase
their budgets annually. They feel bound to continue supporting the churches
with which they cooperate, he says.

"But perhaps it could, in some way, be of advantage to the churches in the
third world that now they must become financially independent as we no
longer have the strength to assist them," he suggested.

Sorensen does not see a way out of the difficulties. "The tendency nowadays
is that people look for the authorities to cover expenses," he says.

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Lutheran World Information
Editorial Assistant: Janet Bond-Nash
E-mail: jbn@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/