wfn.org | ELCA Churchwide Organization Reduces Budget, Positions

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 9, 2003

ELCA CHURCHWIDE ORGANIZATION REDUCES BUDGET, POSITIONS
03-077-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- As a result of a $1.2 million budget reduction
approved April 5 by the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA), six permanent employees of the ELCA churchwide
organization will lose their positions.  In addition, three permanent
positions -- two that are vacant and a third in which the employee will
retire soon -- will also be eliminated, and contracts for three term
employees will soon end, said the Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive for
administration and executive assistant to the ELCA presiding bishop.
     The council action reduced the 2003 churchwide spending
authorization for current funds to $83.6 million, and reduced the World
Hunger program spending authorization to $16 million. The council, which
serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide
assemblies, met here April 4-6.  The next assembly is Aug. 11-17, in
Milwaukee.
     Miller delivered the news in an April 7 message to ELCA churchwide
staff, and joined other ELCA leaders in an April 8 meeting with staff.
     "The harsh realities of the struggling domestic economy and a
projected drop in income for the churchwide budget have required a
revision of the 2003 spending plan for the churchwide organization,"
Miller said in his message to employees. "Sadly, this revised spending
plan means the elimination of churchwide staff positions."
     "I am very mindful that personnel decisions announced today will
have a profound impact on the lives of individuals and families and on
relationships among colleagues in the churchwide organization," said the
Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop.  "Recognizing the loss, we
pledge our continued prayers for those affected and express gratitude
for their work. These are complex and challenging times in which by the
Holy Spirit's power we are called to trust in God's promises and share
God's love for the world."
     Churchwide units have also been asked to underspend their 2003
budgets by a total of $555,000, Miller said. "This will be done by
keeping existing vacant positions vacant and making further reductions
in unit program budgets as well as in office supplies, printing, and
staff travel," he said.
     In addition to personnel cuts, several ELCA churchwide programs
have been impacted by the financial reductions, Miller reported.  They
are:
     + Reducing  Division for Outreach program funds for mission
opportunities and fast- growth congregations
     + Reducing Division for Higher Education and Schools college and
university grants
     + Reducing Division for Church in Society program funds for
education and program resources
     + Eliminating Division for Global Mission support for the Rural
Mission Center in Panama
     + Reducing Commission for	Multicultural Ministries program funds
and moving the source of funding for the director for racial justice
ministries to a designated fund
     + Eliminating Department for Communication support for The
Protestant Hour radio program, the print version of Voices of
Congregational Life, and Resource Information Service temporary staff
     + Eliminating a churchwide subsidy for The Lutheran, the magazine
of the ELCA
     + Eliminating strategy implementation grants administered by the
Office of the Presiding Bishop
     The total reductions for the 2003 churchwide budget, permanent and
temporary, are $1,736,000, Miller added.
     Women of the ELCA, a separately incorporated women's organization
of the church, announced a reconfiguration of its work last week that
resulted in elimination of positions held by seven employees, two
temporary employees and one contract employee. The reconfiguration was
reported to the organization's executive board.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html