Shenango Presbytery cuts off G.A. from undesignated mission funding
By Craig M. Kibler, The Layman Online, February 24, 2005
The Presbytery of Shenango, citing a number of “fundamental problems,” has voted to cut off undesignated mission funds to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and, instead, direct those gifts to presbytery mission projects.
Acting on a joint recommendation from its council and Mission, Communication and Stewardship Committee, the presbytery in a voice vote Feb. 22 overwhelmingly approved cutting the distribution of undesignated mission gifts to the denomination from $21,614.34 (33 percent of the total in 2004) to zero.
The presbytery approved keeping the amount sent to the synod at 13 percent of the total (or, based on 2004 figures, $8,514.74).
The changes would increase the amount of undesignated gifts used for presbytery mission from 52 percent of the total to 87 percent (or $56,983.26 based on 2004 figures), effective January 1, 2005.
In its rationale, the recommendation stated:
- “The General Assembly Council (GAC) has unilaterally applied a 5 percent administrative fee on most designated mission giving effective January 1, 2005.
- A commissioner resolution submitted at the 2004 General Assembly regarding this matter was opposed by the GAC members and staff and rejected by the General Assembly.
- The decision to apply the 5 percent fee was first announced on December 6, 2004, but only in an e-mail to presbytery executives.
- The General Assembly Council did not do any consultation with presbyteries as required by the Book of Order 13.0201g, despite several letters requesting this from Shenango Presbytery.
- The General Assembly Council has not taken into consideration the more fundamental problems with the present funding system.
- Almost 90 percent of mission giving through the General Assembly from Shenango Presbytery sessions is designated.
- Implementation of the administrative fee will have a major impact on recipients, especially the church in the Sudan (approximately $6,000 of $120,000 giving).
- It is past time to adjust to the changes in mission giving (more designated patterns) and live in the real world of the de facto mission funding realities.”