wfn.org | Church Council Authorizes ELCA to Spend $79.6 Million (*Correction)

[Brenda Williams <BRENDAW@elca.org>]

Reply-To: ElcaNews <ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG>
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 22, 1998

CHURCH COUNCIL AUTHORIZES ELCA TO SPEND $79.6 MILLION
98-14-094-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America authorized 1998 spending to total $79.6 million when it
met here April 17-20.  The council also approved a 1998 World Hunger
spending authorization of $11.9 million, and the use of $1.5 million for
new ELCA ministries.
     "We have a new happy problem," said the Rev. Robert N. Bacher,
executive for administration,  "Namely, how to distribute increases for
expanded mission and ministry.  A major factor during 1997-1998 is the
substantial increase of income."
     ELCA treasurer Richard L. McAuliffe said the "churchwide organization
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America had an excess of income over
expense of $1.9 million in current operating funds for the fiscal year
ending Jan. 31, 1998."
     The council also reaffirmed an initial Mission Operating Fund
allocation of $500,000 and an Expanded Ministry Fund of $200,000.
     The Church Council also approved the use of $1.5 million in the
Designated Fund, a fund established by the council at the end of the 1997
fiscal year.  The use of this fund, determined by the Office of the Bishop,
will be used for anti-racism training, $150,000; "In The City For Good," an
urban ministry program, $425,000; a marketing and identity program for the
ELCA, $600,000; a capital budget fund, $200,000; and "Leaders in Mission"
fund, $125,000.
     A report that income to the ELCA World Hunger Fund fell short of its
1997 goal led the council to set hunger program spending at $11.9 million
instead of $12.2 million.
     Support for the ELCA's ministry -- much of which funds global mission
work, the theological education of new pastors, and the planning of new
congregations in the United States and Caribbean -- originates in nearly
11,000 Lutheran congregations.  Funds are sent to the ELCA's 65 synods,
each of which forwards an average of 52.5 percent to the ELCA for its
budgeted programs.
     The Church Council also approved a 1999 fiscal year Current Operating
Fund income proposal of $81 million and a 1999 World Hunger spending
authorization of $12.2 million.
     The ELCA approves its annual budgets for the biennium at its
churchwide assembly held every two years.  The Church Council approves
changes to the expenditures authorization between assemblies.
     In other business the Church Council selected the Indiana Convention
Center in Indianapolis as the site for the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to be
held August 8-14, 2001.  The designation comes at the recommendation of the
church's Office of the Secretary and "subject to satisfactory completion of
negotiation."
     The council decided that it will schedule three meetings each year
beginning in 2000.  The council now meets in the spring and fall of each
year and briefly before each biennial churchwide assembly.  The action
means that council members will reserve dates for a possible meeting in the
summers of even-dated years.  The purpose of the additional meeting will be
to provide the council with a non-legislative session so its members can
engage in one or two key topics without the pressure of needing to come to
a vote.
     In a separate action, the council voted to have two of its 37 voting
members younger than 30 years of age at the time of their election.  Two of
the council's 11 advisors are young people from the ELCA's Lutheran Youth
Organization.  From the 5.2 million members of the ELCA, approximately 1.8
million members are the age of 18 or under.
     The Church Council elected several people to fill unexpired terms or
new positions on churchwide boards and committees:

ELCA Endowment Fund, Board of Trustees
The Rev. E. Allen Scanlon, First Lutheran Church, Greensburg, Pa.
Debra M.J. Buttaggi, St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, Sarasota, Fla.

Board of Pensions, Board of Trustees
Kenneth G. Bash, New Covenant Lutheran Church, Scottsdale, Ariz.
David Alvarez, Iglesia Luterana El Redentor, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

ELCA Committee on Discipline
The Rev. Vicki R. Hultine, Lands Lutheran Church, Zumbrota, Minn.
The Rev. Eugene W. Beutel, St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Camp Hill, Pa.

ELCA Committee on Hearing Officers
Yolanda A. Tanner, St. Philip's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Baltimore

Commission for Multicultural Ministries, Steering Committee
Justin M. Oakman, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Tacoma, Wash.

Department for Human Resources, Advisory Committee
Sylvia J. Pate, New Hope Lutheran Church, Dayton, Ohio
Susan Tolle, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Thousand Oaks, Calif.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html