A Special Appeal on behalf of
Synod and Churchwide Ministries
For reasons that are still unclear, Mission Support (Benevolence) receipts for the month of January 2010 are running dangerously behind. Because this is the final month in the Synod budget year, and the 11th month in the Churchwide budget, it is necessary to ask for your special attention and response.
We have tracked fairly well through this difficult year and have taken account of the hard economy, loss of benevolence from members, and economic protest. Coming out of December we were running about $30,000 behind last year’s income. That doesn’t account for the 3.5% budget increase for FY 2010 that was passed by voting members at the Synod Assembly. Were you a voting member who voted for this increase?
January income is running dangerously behind and there are only a few days left to save this budget. Perhaps it is because Annual Meetings are being held late this month. Many of you passed your 2010 budgets last Sunday and others of you will consider the budget this Sunday, the last day of the month.
It is imperative that congregational presidents and treasurers be alerted to this potential shortfall. As projected today we would miss our Mission Support number on behalf of Churchwide ministries by more than $100,000. Churchwide Ministries have already absorbed cuts equaling 17.5% of the budget and more than 50 ELCA employees have been let go. It is simply unconscionable that in the final month of the budget year we would be so far behind in our offerings for mission.
Many of you may be making extra contributions to Haiti relief. That is a good thing. Give generously! Let your compassion move you to extra gifts but hold on to the budget we committed ourselves to reach on behalf of local, regional, national, and international mission. This too, meets human need!
Pastors, congregational presidents and treasurers: Please make sure that if you have mission support that is approved or will be approved this weekend, that you send that Mission Support to the Financial Services Office in the next day. It makes all the difference in the mission of our church!
Thank you very much,
Bishop Martin Wells Vice President Susan Berg
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