Cash deficit continues to grow in $40-million PCUSA campaign
The Layman Online, April 25, 2005
The $40-million campaign to raise money for world missions and new church development has reported receiving gifts and pledges totaling $918,696 through the first quarter of 2005 that ended on March 31. That raised the total amount of gifts and pledges to $9,357,762.
Helping Hearts & Hands
campaign as of March 31, 2005 Outstanding pledgesCash receiptsTotal pledges and receipts Unrestricted$3,026,097 $452,173 $3,478,270 World mission $835,050 $402,622 $1,237,672 Church growth $4,613,022 $28,799$4,641,821 Total campaign $8,474,159$883,594 $9,357,762Total expenses $2,132,756 But the campaign collected only $31,000 during the first quarter and its accumulated cash deficit grew. From its beginning in 2003 through March 31, Joining Hearts & Hands had accumulated expenses of $2,132,756 and cash contributions of $883,594 – a cash deficit of $1,249,171.
The bulk of the expenses for the campaign had been paid out of per-capita contributions. While the cash-flow deficit continues to climb, the campaign has nonetheless provided funding for a few foreign mission assignments.
In February, Bill Saul, the California businessman who heads the denomination’s $40-million campaign for world and national missions, acknowledged that there’s “lot of animosity and distrust” among potential donors because of the direction of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
“There are problems,” Saul said in his report to the General Assembly Council. “Some of these people are so upset that they consider not giving.”
Quarterly reports Accumulated Cash deficits9/30/2003($275,597) 12/31/2003 ($419,815)3/31/2004($605,543) 6/30/2004 ($802,674) 9/30/2004 ($946,670) 12/31/2004 ($1,074,395)3/31/2005 ($1,249,171)
But he also told the council that when he meets face to face with prospective donors, the animosity lessens. “In every case when we are able to talk with people and not talk about things that divide us, we talk about Joining Hearts & Hands. This is something you can trust. You know where your money’s going. I often go into a place that is almost hostile and come out with a common goal.”
The campaign goal is to raise $20 million for world missions and $20 million for new church development, with the emphasis on starting new racial-ethnic congregations. Most of the money for new church development has been pledged by presbyteries, which normally sponsor new church development with or without a denominationwide campaign.
Helping Hands & Hearts will not collect the presbytery pledges. The presbyteries will spend the new church development money according to their own plans.