wfn.org | LWF Ninth Assembly accounts closed without financial deficit

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

GENEVA, 4 June 1998 (lwi) - For the first time in years the Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) Assembly has not gone over budget. Director of the LWF
Office for Finance and Administration Friedrich Manske has closed the
accounts for the LWF Ninth Assembly, held in Hong Kong last year, with
"some relief". According to Manske, the cost of the assembly for the LWF
amounted to USD 2,360, 456, well within the USD 2.8 assembly budget
approved by the LWF Council at its 1995 meeting in Namibia. Approximately
USD 270,000 in travel costs, board and lodging were paid for by the LWF
member churches themselves putting the total expenditure for the assembly
at USD 2,630,456.

Manske told Lutheran World Information of his great appreciation for the
large number of churches from all regions who in addition to their
contributions also paid part or all of their assembly delegates' travel and
accommodation costs.

Fund-raising efforts were successfully undertaken in addition to the annual
assembly contributions from the member churches, Manske said. Funds were
received especially for the LWF's 50th anniversary from banks, insurances
and other entrepreneurs. Besides that, the member churches and partner
organizations contributed in kind to the success of the worship services
and with extra contributions to the establishment of a fund allowing for
subsidies to partner churches.

According to Manske the assembly preparations were financially determined
through the experience gained from the deficits of earlier assemblies and
the declining member church contributions of recent years. To avoid any
further deficit, criteria for the number of delegates and also the length
of the assembly were set at the 1993 LWF Council meeting in Kristiansand,
Norway. Travel, board and lodging, and conference facilities arrangements
were negotiated closely together with the Assembly Local Planning
Committee, the assembly coordinators, and respective business partners in
Geneva and Hong Kong.

"We thank all member churches and partner organizations for their
contributions in different kind and ways. All were very much appreciated
and contributed to the overall success of the Ninth Assembly in Hong Kong
1997," Manske said.

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Lutheran World Information
Editorial Assistant: Janet Bond-Nash
E-mail: jbn@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/