Mission campaign has spent more than its cash receipts
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, October 29, 2003
From a cash-flow standpoint, the Mission Initiative Campaign in the Presbyterian Church (USA) is in the hole $268,597, according to figures posted recently on the Presbyterian Church (USA) Web site.
The financial report, covering cash gifts and pledges through Sept. 30, said the expenses for the campaign, a.k.a. “Joining Hearts and Hands,” were $726,315.30 and that cash contributions were $450,717.89. Thus, the $268,597 is the difference between what the campaign has cost and what it has raised.
The five-year campaign is being underwritten by a $1 million line-item in the General Assembly Council’s Mission Fund.
The financial report covering cash gifts and pledges through Sept. 30 seemed to conflict with previous announcements about the progress of the campaign to raise $40 million, mainly for missions and new church development:
- The Presbyterian News Service announced on Sept. 11 that “about $8 million has been raised.” But the September financial report listed gifts and pledges totaling only $6.07 million.
- The September report said accumulated cash receipts through Sept. 30 were $450,717.89. But the report on gifts received as of June 30 said cash receipts then were $524,837.93 – indicating that cash receipts had declined by $74,119.33. There was no explanation of why they had declined.
Like the earlier reports in May and June – which were removed from the Web site for the Mission Initiative – the September report reflected a major change in the direction of the campaign.
Initially, fundraisers said they would target wealthy Presbyterians who had a heart for missions and the growth of the church. Ron Lundeen, who recently quit as the campaign’s director, had described the prospective donor as “a wealthy widow … the type who supports the arts.”
But individual contributions have been slow to develop, and the campaign was redirected toward getting presbyteries to help raise the money. That, in turn, has produced an imbalance in meeting the overall objectives of about $20 million for foreign missions and $20 million for new church development.
The latest financial figures show that designated gifts and pledges combined for new church development are running nearly 10-1 over support for mission personnel. The report shows $3.5 million pledged for new church development and $364,371.73 – all received in cash contributions – for mission personnel. In addition, undesignated gifts and pledges are reported at $2.17 million, including $86,961.23 that was listed under cash receipts.
Presbyteries favor new church development because it generates new church members and a broader base of financial support for presbytery programs.