wfn.org | Foundation distributes record $7.2 million in 1998

["Wilma Shuffitt"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

Date: February 15, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

99b-7

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The Christian Church Foundation 
distributed a record $7.2 million in 1998.

	Of that, $6.1 million -- an increase of 45 percent from 
1997 distributions -- went to congregations, general units, 
regions, colleges and seminaries, Basic Mission Finance and 
other Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) entities, 
reports the Rev. James P. Johnson, president.

	The distributions represent a mixture of earnings on 
permanent funds held by the foundation and monies withdrawn 
from the foundation's Joint Investment Trust. Donors who 
establish permanent funds with the Christian Church 
Foundation determine the beneficiaries of their 
distributions.

	Highlights include:

	* $2.1 million sent to congregations, up from $1.1 million 
in 1997;

	* $1.8 million distributed to general units of the 
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), up from $1.5 
million in 1997;

	* $1.2 million going to regions, up from $770,306 in 
1997;

	* $666,000 sent to Basic Mission Finance, an increase from 
the $507,056 distributed in 1997;

	* $295,000 distributed to institutions of higher education 
in 1998, down slightly from $298,547 distributed in 1997.

	The general unit also paid a little more than $1 million 
to individuals under terms of life-income agreements, such 
as charitable gift annuities or charitable remainder 
trusts. Another $42,000 was sent to non-Disciples 
charitable entities, per the instructions of donors.

	Overall, the foundation received more than $10.7 million 
in new gifts in 1998, including $5.6 million as permanent 
funds and $4.8 million as deferred gifts in the form of 
charitable trusts and annuities. These numbers represent 
428 permanent fund gifts and 92 deferred gifts.

	As of Jan. 1, the foundation was responsible for more than 
$165 million of the church's money, up from $133.8 million 
at the start of 1998.

	To put the 1998 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.

	The foundation's role as a trust officer for the church 
also was enhanced in 1998, Johnson said. "Units and 
congregations within the Christian Church invested $9.9 
million with the foundation . . .  a million dollars more 
than in 1997," he said. "Congregations are able to draw 
upon their investments to fund significant ministries in 
their communities."

	Specific information about the investment and planned 
giving unit's three investment pools is available by 
calling the Christian Church Foundation at (800) 668-8016.

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