Staff debt relief proposal sent back for reconsideration
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, September 29, 2003
MONTREAT, N.C. – The Presbyterian Church (USA) has been among the mainline denominations that have clamored for debt-relief for poor nations that struggle to repay loans from wealthy nations.
At its meeting in Montreat, the General Assembly Council struggled about a similar issue on a smaller scale – what to do about congregations and individuals that cannot, or have not, paid back loans.
The council’s National Ministries Committee considered a proposal to forgive nine debts totaling $169,417. The committee was not quick to erase the debts. It told the National Ministries Division staff to think again about the situation.
The staff said it reviewed 34 loans that are 25 years or older and “determined that nine loans should be forgiven. These loans were originated between 25 and 37 years ago.”
The report said the staff did not believe there would be any benefit in trying collect the debts. “It has been assessed that continued pursuit of the collection of debt in these cases would produce increased financial pressures that will jeopardize the already strained well-being of these congregations.”
The nine debts on the staff forgiveness list were:
- First Presbyterian Church of Sacaton, Ariz., $13,787. (PCUSA data: The congregation has 125 members but no financial figures have been reported for 11 years.)
- United Presbyterian Church of Romeoville, Ill., $13,485. (PCUSA data: The congregation has 35 members and income of $17,758 in 2002.)
- First Presbyterian Church of Flandreau, S.D., $27,233. (PCUSA data: The congregation has 73 members. Its revenue in 2002 was listed at $17,758.)
- Villa Carolina Presbyterian Church, Carolina, Puerto Rico, $5,934.(PCUSA data: The congregation has 104 members, with receipts of $20,977 in 2002.)
- Antonio Hernandez Badillo, San An., Puerto Rico, $15,793. (No additional information was provided by the staff report. Badillo is an individual, not a congregation.)
- Second Presbyterian Church of Ponce, Puerto Rico, $24,947. (PCUSA data: The congregation has 63 members with income of $13,901 in 2002.)
- Kayenta Presbyterian Church of Kayenta, Ariz., $15,195. (PCUSA data: The congregation has lost two-thirds of its members since 1992, down to 21. Its income was $13,648 in 2001, with none reported for 2002.)
- Mleza Alta of Aquadilla, Puerto Rico, $1,511. (PCUSA data: No congregation by this name and no information about whether “Mleza Alta” is an individual.)
- Fort Defiance Presbyterian Church, Fort Defiance, Ariz., $51,532. (PCUSA data: Fort Defiance Church is listed as a Navajo congregation. No other information is available.)