Presbyterians, Lutherans slash budgets

National Catholic Reporter ^ | 4/6/9 | Daniel Burke, Religion News Service

[SmithL]

The Presbyterian Church (USA) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America both have slashed their 2009 budgets, cutting programs and laying off scores of personnel as denominations continue to suffer from the recession.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in American (ELCA), the nation's largest Lutheran denomination, announced a $5.6-million reduction in its 2009 budget on Tuesday (March 31). The cut was necessary in part because regional synods plan to decrease their contributions to the denomination by $2.4 million this year, church leaders said.

Since last November, the ELCA has eliminated more than 23 jobs and cut 12 additional vacant positions. All churchwide units reduced their budgets for 2009, staff salaries were cut by 3 percent, and grants to churches, colleges, universities, seminaries and social services were slashed, according to an ELCA statement.

The ELCA also decided to cut its radio ministry, Grace Matters, which has aired weekly since 1947. Easter Sunday, April 12, will be the final broadcast for the program, which aired on nearly 180 radio stations in the U.S. and overseas, the church said.

On March 27, the Presbyterians announced a $4 million reduction in their 2009 budget because of a projected $10-million shortfall.

[SmithL]

ELCA news.

[DManA]

Wait until this summer when 1/3 of the congregation walks out.

[Alex Murphy]

Related thread:
Presb. Church USA launches ambitious plan to lose only 5% of members

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

That high, huh? I think it will be closer to 10%

Most of them won’t know where to go...probably the PCUSA.

[BlessedMom92]

Will it be a third or more like a half? Do they actually plan to make a decision, or keep loosening their morals, and keep on deciding whether to decide. What a joke the ELCA has become.

[bcsco]

ELCA news...

[BlessedMom92]

Will it be a third or more like a half? Do they actually plan to make a decision, or keep loosening their morals, and keep on deciding whether to decide. What a joke the ELCA has become.

[SnakeDoctor]

Interesting. The budget for the EXTREMELY large Baptist Church I attend has increased since last year.

SnakeDoc

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

In @ P#5

[bcsco]

Yeah, you posted while I was writing...

[wk4bush2004]

The way this article is written and the way these denominations are talking, you’d think they were for-profit corporations!

Since when was The Church supposed to be a business?

[SmithL]

You don’t suppose it has something to do with their decisions to become politically correct instead of Biblically relevant, do you?

[lightman]

Lutheran (ELCA) Ping!

Keep a Good Lent!

According to Mark Chavez, observer from Lutheran CORE, the ELCA Church Council received this dismal news during their March 27 - 30 meeting; and, after receiving that news proceeded to endorse and augment the recommendations of the Sexuality Task Force, plus stood firm on their previous decision to require only a 50% + 1 vote at the upcoming Churchwide Assembly concerning the recommendations on accepting openly gay clergy.

How can they fail to connect the dots?

[Lee N. Field]

Eventually nothing will be left but a lefty pagan core.

[bcsco]

How can they fail to connect the dots?

Are they? Or are they deciding whom they prefer to associate with?

[chase19]

They do connect the dots. It was/is deliberate. And Obama will just do another bailout which will bring him ever closer to his national anything goes ‘church’. I wish the faithful congregants wouldn’t leave and in turn force the neo-pagans out. You’re losing such beautiful Churches to them. Sad.

[PAR35]

Thanks for posting some good news.

[PAR35]

Related thread:

Better watch out, or you'll end up on the Catholic ping list.

[P-Marlowe]

Those denominations have long been in the throes of a spiritual recession.