wfn.org | DNS - Foundation distributions top $4.2 million

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     Title: Foundation distributions top $4.2 million
     Date: February 4, 1998
     Disciples News Service
     Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
     Contact: Clifford L. Willis
     Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
     on the web: http//www.disciples.org
     
     98b-7
     
          INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The Christian Church Foundation distributed about
     $4.2 million to entities of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) during 1997 --
     including the largest allotment to Basic Mission Finance in CCF's history.
      
          The total is up 16 percent from the $3.6 million distributed during 1996, said the
     Rev. James P. Johnson, president.
      
          "We at the foundation continue to be pleased with the deep love donors have for
     the church, and their desire to fund important ministries long into the future,"  Johnson
     said.
      
          CCF received more than $6.3 million in new gifts in 1997. Of this amount, $2.1
     million were permanent funds and $4.1 million were deferred charitable trusts and
     annuities. These donations represent 367 permanent fund contributions and 95 deferred
     gifts. 
      
          According to preliminary figures:                    
     
          * General units and recognized organizations of the Christian Church received
     $1.4 million in distributions, a 25 percent increase from 1996.
      
          * Congregations were the beneficiaries of $1.1 million, up about $200,000 from
     the year before.
      
          * Basic Mission Finance received about $525,000, an increase of $30,000, or
     about 7 percent.
      
          * Regions received about $770,000, up more than $100,000 from 1996, and higher
     education  institutions received $298,000, down from $348,000 in 1996.
      
                               - more -add 1-1-1/Foundation distributions
     Disciples News Service
     98b-7
     
          Johnson said donors to the foundation determine the recipients of their gifts. CCF
     also distributed about $860,000 to church members through lifetime agreements, an
     increase of $180,000 from 1996. Another $92,000 was distributed to non-Disciples
     charitable causes.
      
          To put the 1997 distributions in perspective, the foundation distributed just
     $728.81 in 1965. By 1980, distributions had grown to $327,168, and by 1990, reached
     $1.9 million.
      
          Johnson said the general unit was responsible for about $134 million of the
     church's money in 1997, up from $112 million at the end of 1996.
      
          The foundation's role as a trust officer for the church also was enhanced in 1997,
     he said.
      
     "Units and congregations within the Christian Church invested $8.7 million with the
     Foundation, almost double the $4.6 million invested in 1996," Johnson said.
     "Congregations are able to draw upon their investments to fund significant ministries in
     their communities."
      
                           - end -

DISCNEWS - inbox for Disciples News Service, Office of Communication, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), PO Box 1986 Indianapolis, IN 46206, tele. (317) 635-3100, (DISCNEWS@ecunet.org) Wilma Shuffitt, News and Information Assistant; (CWILLIS@oc.disciples.org) Cliff Willis, Director of News and Information; (CMILLER@oc.disciples.org) Executive Director