ELCA NEWS SERVICE
March 15, 2006
ELCA Treasurer Tells Bishops 2005 Financial Year Positive
06-039-JB
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. (ELCA) -- The treasurer of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) reported that the ELCA
churchwide organization received $3.5 million in operating income
over expenses for the fiscal year that ended Jan. 31, 2006. In
addition, total contributions in 2005 to the ELCA World Hunger
Appeal reached $17.7 million.
Christina Jackson-Skelton reported the positive news March 5
to the ELCA Conference of Bishops. The conference is an advisory
body of the church, consisting of the ELCA's 65 synod bishops,
presiding bishop and secretary. It met here March 2-7.
Unrestricted receipts totaled $81.8 million for fiscal year
2005 compared with $81.2 million in 2004. Related 2005 expenses
were $78.3 million, up $1.5 million from 2004, Jackson-Skelton
said. Revenue for 2005 was $800,000 ahead of the Church Council-
approved budget, while 2005 expenses were below the council's
authorized level by $2.6 million.
Mission support funds -- income from congregations through
synods to the churchwide organization -- were $65.5 million, down
$200,000 from the previous year, the ELCA treasurer said. Thirty-
three synods increased mission support in 2005; mission support
from 32 synods decreased, Jackson-Skelton said.
Other sources of income supporting the 2005 budget totaled
$16.3 million compared with $15.6 million in 2004. These funds
included gifts designated for missionary sponsorship and Vision
for Mission, income from bequests, trusts and endowments, support
from the ELCA Mission Investment Fund, fraternal grants and other
income, Jackson-Skelton said.
Of the total $17.7 million given to the World Hunger Appeal,
a record $17 million was for the general World Hunger Appeal, as
compared to $16.2 million one year ago. Some $700,000 was
designated, most of which was given to "Stand With Africa," a
churchwide effort to support specific ministry projects in
Africa. ELCA world hunger income was "especially gratifying" in
light of the significant contributions members gave in response
to disasters in 2005, she said.
ELCA members' 2005 contributions to disaster response were
"unprecedented," Jackson-Skelton said.
"Disaster response once again dominated both the world and
church news last year, with ELCA members contributing $36.8
million in 2005 compared to $10.5 million in 2004," Jackson-
Skelton wrote in her report, adding that an additional $900,000
was provided through external grants. Nearly $26 million of the
2005 funds were designated for hurricane relief, and $6.2 million
was designated for response to the South Asia tsunami which
occurred in December 2004.
In 2006 ELCA Domestic Disaster Response expects to receive
$5.6 million in federal grants for hurricane relief, she said.
Jackson-Skelton concluded her report by thanking the synod
bishops for the work they did to contribute to the church's
overall financial success in 2005.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
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