PCUSA campaign hits $23.9 million, but its expenses outpace contributions
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, February 27, 2006
The $40-million Joining Hearts & Hands campaign of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has reported pledges, cash contributions and interest income of $23,958,950 since the campaign began in 2002.
But of the total, only 8.3 percent – $2,006,942 – has been in cash and interest earned. Meanwhile, the report says, campaign expenses – $2,364,362 – are still exceeding cash income by 17 percent, or $357,410.
Until 2005, the General Assembly Council paid all of the campaign costs through per-capita contributions from the denomination’s local congregations. Without having to pay its own expenses, the campaign was able to appropriate some funding for missions – $686,149, only 2.9 percent of the total in pledges and actual income.
As of Jan. 1, 2005, the General Assembly Council and the campaign began splitting the expenses 50-50.
The latest financial statement on the campaign reported figures through the fourth quarter that ended on Dec. 31, 2005. It showed that fulfillment of pledges – especially for new church development – continues to be slow.
Presbyteries have pledged $15,215,243 for new church development toward a goal of $20 million. But the financial statement showed that none of that money – which is supposed to be divided 50-50 among racial/ethnic church development and other new church development – had been spent through Dec. 31, 2005. Furthermore, the money is to be spent directly by the presbyteries, with none of it being used to offset campaign expenses. All of the expenses are being paid by the General Assembly Council and through funds raised for worldwide missions.
Recently, the denomination’s Worldwide Ministries Division informed would-be missionaries that they would have to raise their support locally and run those contributions through Joining Hearts & Hands. The money for missions, therefore, will pay most of the ongoing campaign costs.