wfn.org | 2001 Basic Mission Finance report, cause for

["Communication Ministries" <wshuffit@cm.disciples.org>]

celebration and concern
Date: February 1, 2002
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Curt Miller
E-mail: cmiller@cm.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

02a-10

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- "There is both good news and bad
news to report about the state of annual giving to the
outreach mission funds of the church," said Lois Artis,
president of the Church Finance Council of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ), in her report to the
Administrative Committee of the General Board of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) here Jan. 29. 

	Artis reported that the grand total of gifts to the
outreach mission funds of the church was practically flat,
down .3 percent from $31.19 million in 2000 to $31.1
million in 2001. 

	In her detailed analysis, Artis said, "I will begin with
the good news. Designated giving to Week of Compassion,
Reconciliation and the operating fund increased during the
year 2001," she reported. 

	Designated giving to Reconciliation increased by 635.83
percent or $11,286. Artis attributed much of the increase
to donors' desires to give in response to the events of
Sept. 11.

	Designated giving through the Week of Compassion was up
339.26 percent or $1,010,908. "This growth in designated
receipts is attributed to the tremendous response of
Disciples to the disasters of Sept. 11 and the Week of
Compassion appeal to respond to the needs of refugees in
Afghanistan," Artis said. 

	Overall, designated operating gifts increased by 4.91
percent or $117,786 during 2001.  As a whole, Disciples
general ministries experienced an increase in designated
giving, but the Division of Homeland Ministries and the
Pension Fund saw declines in designated operating gifts.
Overall designated operating gifts to higher education were
down as well.  The Division of Overseas Ministries, the
Hispanic Ministry Commission and the National Benevolent
Association saw increases in designated operating gifts. 
Regions, Artis reported, experienced a net increase in
designated operating income as well.

	"The increases in designated giving follow the current
trend in the United States," Artis observed. "Donors in
general want more control over how their gifts are used and
engage more freely in directed giving," she said. "Many
younger donors especially want to know that their gifts are
supporting causes for which they have a passion." 

	In addition to increases is designated giving, regular
contributions to Week of Compassion were up.  Artis
credited the work of the Rev. Johnny Wray, WOC
administrative director for the increase. 

	Artis also praised the Christian Church Foundation and its
president, the Rev. James Johnson. "While the Foundation
was affected by the volatility of the stock market,
Christian Church Foundation distributions to Basic Mission
Finance ministries in 2001 increased 4.46% or $31,261." 

	Church Finance Council's earnings from short-term interest
were down 51.9 percent or $57,487 in 2001, due to a
sluggish economy and declines in short-term interest rates
from 5.35 percent in Jan. 2001 to .75 percent in Dec. 2001. 

	Reconciliation regular giving declined 5.3 percent in
2001.  Artis said the transition in the Reconciliation
Mission leadership and the events of Sept. 11 contributed
to the decline. 

	"Most disappointing to us was the annual giving to the
mission of the whole church -- Basic Mission Finance,"
Artis said.  Contributions to Basic Mission Finance in 2001
were down 4.23 percent from the year 2000.  Artis suggested
that several factors contributed to the decline. The
sluggish economy slowed the pace of BMF giving. And some
churches, she said, decreased or ceased giving to BMF
because of discontent with decisions made or affirmed by
the General Assembly.  

	"Another major factor ... continues to be the decline in
the number of Disciples congregations," Artis noted. Year
Book and Directory of the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) figures show a net loss of 59 congregations in
2001.  "Over a twenty-two year period, we have gained 285
congregations and lost 1,012 congregations," Artis
reported. 

	Artis reported hopeful signs as well. 126 congregations
participated in BMF giving that did not contribute in 2000,
although the church experienced a net decrease of 55
participating BMF congregations.  Giving from the top 50
BMF congregations increased in 2001 from $3,211,000 to
$3,220,000.  "We also took note of the fact that less than
2 percent of our participating BMF congregations gave
slightly more than 16 percent of our total BMF dollars from
congregations," she said. 

	In 2001, Church Finance Council developed the major
stewardship education series, Gifted: Finding Joy in Common
Life. "This stewardship education material is multicultural
and may be used in intergenerational settings as well,"
Artis said. "The materials are designed for all ages, but
focus heavily on educating children and youth, a strong
need expressed by local congregations." She encouraged
congregations to order the stewardship material from the
Church Finance Council and use it in 2002.  

	"2001 was a difficult year for Disciples, but our hope in
Christ Jesus remains undaunted," the CFC president said. "I
invite you to join with the Church Finance Council in
starting 2002 with a passion for mission and the commitment
to faithful stewardship that is required for a church,
called to be and share the good news, witnessing from our
doorsteps to the ends of the earth." 

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