wfn.org | ELCA Mission Investment Fund Issues Current Interest Rates

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

January 10, 2001

ELCA MISSION INVESTMENT FUND ISSUES CURRENT INTEREST RATES
01-005-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Mission Investment Fund (MIF) of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) announced new interest
rates effective Jan. 1 for its adjustable-rate and fixed-rate
investment options.
     "The MIF offers opportunities for ELCA members, congregations
and ELCA-related institutions to earn interest on their financial
blessings while helping to build the church," said the Rev. Arnold O.
Pierson, MIF vice president for marketing.
     Funds invested in the MIF are used to make low-interest loans
to ELCA mission congregations for capital needs, such as purchasing
land and constructing church buildings.  More than 600 loans are
currently in effect throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the
U.S. Virgin Islands.
     The MIF has assets of more than $350 million and is the
second-largest church-related loan fund in the United States.  More
than one-third of the ELCA's 10,851 congregations and thousands of
the ELCA's 5.15 million members have invested in the MIF.

Adjustable-Rate Investments
     Interest rates on adjustable-rate investments are determined on
Jan. 1 and July 1 each year.  The rates for adjustable-rate MIF
investments from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2001, are:

MissionPlus: 5.0%
This investment provides a checkbook which investors can use to write
checks for a minimum amount of $500.

MissionTerm (Certificate of Deposit):
- 1 year term    5.4%
- 3 year term    5.1%
- 5 year term    5.1%
- 10 year term   5.1%

MissionIRA
A MissionTerm investment can be held as an adjustable-rate
investment; available as Traditional, Education or Roth Individual
Retirement Accounts:
- 3 year term    5.1%
- 5 year term    5.1%
- 10 year term   5.1%

MissionFuture: 5.1%
This investment is for children from birth to age 16; the investment
matures on a person's 18th birthday.

Fixed-Rate Investments
     Interest rates for fixed-rate investments are reviewed each
month; the interest rate remains in effect throughout the term of an
investment.  Interest rates for fixed-rate MIF investments from Jan.
1 through Jan. 31, 2001 are:

MissionTerm
- 2 year term   5.6%
- 4 year term   5.7%
- 6 year term   5.8%

MissionIRA
- 2 year term   5.6%
- 4 year term   5.7%
- 6 year term   5.8%

EDITORS: Information about MIF investments can be obtained by calling
800-638-3522, ext. 2943, by sending e-mail to mif@elca.org or
accessing http://www.elca.org/ot/mif on the World Wide Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html