wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Thanks a million

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #7964 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Thanks a million
03426
October 3, 2003

Thanks a million

GAC distributes restricted funds throughout the church

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE - During its recent meeting in Montreat, NC, the General Assembly
Council (GAC) distributed more than $1 million in new restricted funds to
projects throughout the church.

Beneficiaries of the windfall ranged from General Assembly entities to
congregations with fewer than 100 members. Less than $3,000 of the $1,030,301
went into national offices of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

That's because the General Assembly in 1997 approved a process through which
all PC(USA) governing bodies can apply directly for restricted funds. Before
1997, all restricted funds were directed to Assembly programs.

This year, $726,000 went to synod projects, $249,000 to presbytery projects,
and the remaining $25,000 to projects sponsored by 25 congregations,
including six with fewer than 100 members.

"This is a perfect example of what the General Assembly wanted done when it
voted to make all restricted funds available to the whole church," GAC
Executive Director John Detterick said.

Every year, a list of restricted funds is published, and governing bodies -
from sessions to GA entities - may submit proposals that meet the
restrictions. The GAC's Restricted Funds Oversight Committee reviews the
proposals and makes the funding decisions, subject to GAC approval.

More than $850,000 of new restricted funds this year came from a single
source - a multi-year, multi-million dollar bequest to be used for "training
ministers for preaching and teaching the Bible in the Western United States."

Among the entities sharing in those funds: the Presbytery of Inland Northwest
($127,000), the Synod of the Pacific ($350,000), Utah Presbytery ($50,000),
the African Church Strategy Team of Pacific Presbytery ($50,000), and the
Synod of the Southwest, in partnership with Ghost Ranch Conference Center
($376,000).

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please send an email to
pcusanews-subscribe-request@halak.pcusa.org or
pcusanews-unsubscribe-request@halak.pcusa.org

To contact the owner of the list, please send an email to
pcusanews-request@halak.pcusa.org