News Releases
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
March 8, 2010
Despite Challenges, ELCA Churchwide Organization had Net Income in '09
10-083-JB
(Updated)
ITASCA, Ill. (ELCA) -- Despite the financial challenges of 2009, much of it the result of the downturn in the U.S. economy, the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) finished the year with net income of $3.9 million.
Christina Jackson-Skelton, ELCA treasurer, reported to the ELCA Conference of Bishops meeting here that current operating income to the churchwide organization in 2009 was $76.5 million, down nearly $7 million from the previous year. Current operating funds expenses were $72.6 million, down by $7.6 million from the previous year. The ELCA's 2009 fiscal year ended Jan. 31.
The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body of the church, consisting of the ELCA's 65 synod bishops plus the presiding bishop and ELCA secretary. It is meeting here March 4-9.
A key reason for the reduced income was a decrease in mission support to the churchwide organization to $59.7 million, a historic low. Mission support funds are shared by congregations with synods, which commit a percentage of their funds for churchwide ministries.
Jackson-Skelton reported that in 2009 mission support income was reduced by 64 synods, 53 with decreases of greater than 5 percent, and 19 of those with decreases exceeding 10 percent.
***
GJ - I can imagine another reason for ELCA income reaching a new low. Their figures do not even account for inflation. It's even worse than they admit. Twenty years ago, they aimed at $130 million.
This Chris Jackson is not Mrs. Ichabod, as you probably guessed, but I enjoy using the name for ELCA's bad news.
Lower income means fewer false teachers infecting America.
