wfn.org | LWF treasurer urges clear priority setting

[FRANK.IMHOFF@ecunet.org]

LWF COUNCIL MEETING, TURKU, FINLAND, 14-21 JUNE 2000
PRESS RELEASE NO. 3

TURKU, Finland /GENEVA, 16 June 2000 (LWI) - While it is evident that
overall measures have been taken to reduce the actual expenditures to
match the income of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Geneva
Co-ordination budget, there is need to explore how the respective
activities can be presented in such a way that their essential aims are
safeguarded and a higher level of funding for priority activities can be
generated

At the same time it is important that the relationship between the
co-ordination and the program budget be well understood and that the
implications of each be weighed against the other.

These remarks were contained in the report of the Treasurer to the LWF
Council meeting in Turku from 14 to 21 June 2000. The report stated that
compared to 1996, receipts and disbursements for the Department for
World Service (DWS) programs continued to rise from 1997 through 1998 to
1999 but there was an indication of a slight decrease in the Department
for Mission and Development (DMD). While the actual expenditure for the
Geneva Co-ordination budget in1999 compared to 1998 was CHF 13.5
million, representing a reduction of 2.4 percent, it has not been
possible to break new ground in terms of financing the Geneva
Secretariat.

The treasurer urged the Council to address the balance among the various
programmatic activities and contribute insights from the churches in
terms of broad priorities as well funding and partnership options. "In
this, DWS is very different from the rest of the LWF programmatic work
both in terms of resources, operational set up and partnerships. It
would therefore be particularly important to take the necessary time for
a discussion in the full Council of the types of challenges ahead for
DWS and the implications for the rest of the LWF, based on the work of
the World Service Programme Committee," the chief financial officer of
the Federation's governing body stated.

The report of the outgoing treasurer Dr. Sigrun Mogedal from the Church
of Norway was presented by one of the LWF's vice-presidents, Ms Parmata
Ishaya from the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria. The former has
resigned from the Council following a State appointment.

Financial framework unlikely to change

The treasurer pointed out that the financial framework in which the LWF
operates is unlikely to change dramatically in the next years. Therefore
one of the major challenges facing the Federation is the need to
maintain the current level of funding and avoid further decrease while
at the same time assuring a continuous process of fiscal consolidation
and further prioritising of the work according to the needs of its
members.

Among the proposals made by the treasurer was the need to get an
overview of all possible kinds of resources and checking this against
the shared goals. In addition, all programs should be examined as to
whether each activity has to be done by the LWF alone or in an
ecumenical partnership.

Of particular mention was new ways of drawing upon the various resources
of the Federation "to provide sources of energy and coherence and the
basis to operate and innovate." The treasurer pointed out that the
resource consultation that took place in Geneva in November 1999
provided a forum for discussions on new ways of thinking and acting
together to fulfil the mission of the Federation, as outlined in the LWF
constitution. This process should be followed up.

Other sources of financial income that were mentioned by the treasurer
include membership fees and the LWF Endowment Fund. There has been
follow up to a consultation held in Geneva in 1999 to determine fair and
effective criteria for the calculation of membership fees including a
request to churches to consider adjusting their respective contribution
to the required amount. From that process, it is encouraging to note
that a number of churches have accepted the challenge and are pursuing
ways and means to consider the request, others asked for a grace period
and a smaller number explained, why they are not in a position to raise
their fees.

Positive response to the Endowment Fund

According to the treasurer, another resource is the LWF Endowment Fund,
of which the aim is to supplement income to cover the cost for essential
functions of the Geneva Secretariat. Members of the Board of the LWF
Foundation, at their second ordinary meeting in April 2000 noted that a
number of churches have already responded positively to the fund. It
will still likely require a number of years to build up by 2004 the set
goal of USD 10 million, which would provide a substantial amount of
earnings to assure the Federation's work.

The treasurer used the imagery of a clay pot to describe the nature of
the Lutheran communion. "Its (the communion) strength is its global
nature, growth in membership, ability to cope with diversity while
maintaining unity and identity, history, ownership and vision. It is a
treasure ... in a clay pot, both beautiful and breakable."

However, she noted that "our power and our treasure has to do with
risking to be both weak and strong, unmasking powers that oppress,
undermine and overshadow. It has to do with healing and restoring broken
relationships and with affirming the value and identity of each part in
our diverse communion. The clay pot is just as strong as our communion,"
the out going treasurer said as she urged for solidarity in ensuring
proper stewardship of this treasure. It "goes beyond the responsibility
of a treasurer, it is the task given to all of us," she concluded.

In her final report to the Council, Mogedal expressed gratitude for the
support accorded to her during her term office and for the collective
responsibility shown toward the work of the Federation.

(The LWF is a global communion of 128 member churches in 70 countries
representing 58 million of the world's 61.5 million Lutherans. Its
highest decision making body is the Assembly, held every six or seven
years. Between Assemblies, the LWF is governed by a 49-member Council
which meets annually, and its Executive Committee. The LWF secretariat
is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted, material
presented does not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its
various units. Where the dateline of an article contains the notation
(LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/