ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 15, 2005

ELCA Council Funds Five Commitments, Revises Spending
05-068-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) designated more than $4.5
million to support specific ministries related to the church's
strategic priorities.  Most of the money -- $4 million -- was
extra income to the churchwide organization in 2004, the result
of significant underspending by churchwide units, the council was
told.
     The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and
serves as the legislative authority of the church between
churchwide assemblies.  The council met here April 9-11.
Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14,
in Orlando, Fla.
     The ELCA's strategic directions call for support for
congregations, growth in evangelical outreach, stepping forward
as a public church, deepening global, ecumenical and interfaith
relationships, and developing and supporting church leaders.
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, proposed
that the council designate $4 million of the church's total 2004
income over expenses, plus another $537,622 in funds designated
by predecessor church bodies, for use in five specific ministry
areas.
     "This proposal is intended to reinvest funds into mission,"
said Linda J. Brown, Fargo, N.D., council member and chair of the
council's Budget and Finance Committee, who presented the
proposal to the council.
     The council designated the funds as follows:
     + Leadership Development Initiative ($2,587,622): Funds will
be used to support the church's evangelism strategy, ethnic
ministry strategies, a young adult leadership program in global
mission and leadership for public life.  The funds will also
support an additional executive assistant to the presiding
bishop, support services and program expenses.  The fund will be
administered by representatives of several churchwide units in
collaboration with an ad hoc committee appointed by the ELCA
Conference of Bishops.
     Hanson announced that he has appointed the Rev. M. Wyvetta
Bullock to serve as executive assistant to the presiding bishop
for leadership development.  Bullock, who will leave her current
position as executive director of the ELCA Division for
Congregational Ministries (DCM), will assume her new role no
later than May 15, he said.  Bullock, 53, has worked in DCM since
the ELCA was formed in 1988.  In 1996 she became executive
director.
     Bullock is "perfectly suited" for the position and Hanson
said he is "delighted" she will assume her new role in the
presiding bishop's office.
     "She was a major architect of the evangelism strategy and a
key contributor to ethnic specific strategies developed by the
churchwide organization," Hanson said.  "She co-chaired the
committee of the Lutheran World Federation that produced the
widely acclaimed document on "Mission in Context." The theology
and practice of mission embedded in this document is a solid
foundation upon which Wyvetta will shepherd this church's
understanding of leadership for mission."
     "Her personal practice of discipleship is a model of
leadership for us all," Hanson added. "She brings wisdom,
experience, and imagination to her work. Her passion is to
proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ."
     "It has been an honor to have served in churchwide ministry
for over 17 years," Bullock said.  "These past 10 years, as
executive director of the Division for Congregational Ministries,
have been both exciting and challenging.  I could not have served
with a better staff and board.  I will always be grateful for
their partnership in ministry."
     "As I bring that call to a close, I am pleased to accept the
call to serve the churchwide organization in a new role focused
on leadership development," Bullock continued.  "This area of
ministry is one for which I bring deep passion.  There are many
good resources in the ELCA for this work.  I will not do this
work alone, and look forward to working with the many existing
partners as I carry out my duties."
     + Introduction of New Primary Worship Resource ($950,000):
These funds will support the introduction of a new primary
worship resource for the ELCA, to be added to a designated fund
for the Renewing Worship project of the ELCA.  The funds will be
managed by the proposed worship section in the Office of the
Presiding Bishop in collaboration with Augsburg Fortress, the
publishing ministry of the ELCA.
     + New Congregational Development and Renewal of Strategic
Ministries ($500,000): Funds will be used to support new
congregational development and renewal of strategic ministries
through the proposed Evangelical Outreach and Congregational
Mission unit.  Decisions on the use of these funds will be made
by a "review table" including synod bishops, mission directors
and staff of the ELCA churchwide organization.
     + Ministry Among People Living in Poverty ($400,000): The
funds will provide additional support for the Ministry Among
People Living in Poverty program.  Funds will be administered by
a staff team in the churchwide organization in collaboration with
a committee of the ELCA Conference of Bishops.
     + Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine
($100,000):  Several churchwide units will manage these funds
which will support this strategy.  The council adopted it at this
meeting.

Revised Spending Reallocates $1.86 Million
     The council increased the church's 2005 current fund
spending authorization by $377,000 to a total of nearly $81
million.  Brown explained that the increase was possible because
mission support funds for 2005 are forecast to increase, based on
synod commitments for this fiscal year.
     In addition, the church's obligation for retiree medical
premiums is being reduced by about $1.5 million this year.  That,
coupled with increased mission support income, allowed the
council to reallocate $1.86 million in the 2005 churchwide
budget.
     The council allocated the additional funds in five areas:
     + ELCA Division for Global Mission: $100,000 for support of
emerging churches in the global Lutheran communion of churches.
     + Support for ecumenical, interreligious and institutional
partners: $815,500 will be shared among the Lutheran World
Federation, World Council of Churches, National Council of
Churches USA, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Lutheran
Services in America, seminaries, colleges and universities.  An
interunit churchwide staff committee, working with the presiding
bishop, will determine how the funds are to be made available.
     + Federal chaplaincy position, ELCA Department for Synodical
Relations: $17,000; this recurring obligation will increase to
$22,000 in 2006.
     + ELCA Office of the Secretary, in collaboration with the
ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop: $30,000 for editorial
assistant contract position to assist in preparing materials for
the 2005 Churchwide Assembly.
     + Contingency line in the churchwide budget: $900,000.
     In another action, the council authorized budget proposals
to be presented to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly for the 2006 and
2007 fiscal years.  The current fund proposal for 2006 will total
$81.2 million; the world hunger program proposal will be $16.75
million.  For 2007, the current fund proposal will be $81.5
million, and the world hunger program proposal will be $17
million.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news