wfn.org | WCC Improves Finances

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3508 notes).

Note 3507 by UMNS on March 24, 1997 at 16:26 Eastern (2143 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Bloom                             153(10-71B){3507}
          New York (212) 870-3803                   March 24, 1997

WCC greatly reduces
financial deficit

                    by United Methodist News Service

     The World Council of Churches (WCC) has made progress in
overcoming a severe financial crisis.
     According to Ecumenical News International, the WCC reduced
its deficit from about $13.6 million to $680,000 during 1996. The
United Methodist Church is among the WCC's larger members.
     The Rev. Bruce Robbins, executive secretary, United Methodist
Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns,
applauded those efforts.
     "I've been encouraged by the way the world council has been
grappling with the financial situation and hope it motivates
continued reflection of what the real needs of the churches are
today," he said during a March 21 interview.
     The Rev. Konrad Raiser, WCC general secretary, attributed the
adjustment to good returns on investments and favorable exchange
rates, resulting in a higher-than-expected income for the
ecumenical body.
     The financial crisis has meant a staff reduction from 237
full-time employees at the beginning of 1996 to 189 at the
beginning of this year. Additional staff reductions -- although
not as dramatic in number -- are expected over the next two years.
     The agency also could be impacted significantly in 1999
because of proposed income tax cuts in Germany. That country's
main Protestant churches receive significant income from church
tax, which is a percentage of Germany's income tax.
     Robbins believes the WCC can continue to make "enormous
contributions" to ecumenism in the future and pointed out that if
it ceased to exist, another structure would take its place. "None
of us can be the church without each other," he said. "There's got
to be some forum where we can come together."
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