By Leslie Scanlon, The Presbyterian Outlook.
Members of the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board’s finance committee continue to be concerned about the likelihood that the Presbyterian Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church (USA) will deplete its unrestricted reserves by 2017 and are searching for ways to respond to that financial possibility.
By the end of this year, projections are that the unrestricted reserve – known as the Presbyterian Mission Program Fund (PMPF) – will fall to less than $1 million over the required minimum. By 2017, assuming no changes in unrestricted giving or in the spending pattern, there would not be enough left in the reserves to balance the budget.
During a conference call May 8, members of the board’s finance and audit committees looked at a 10-year history of PMPF funding, showing generally a downward trend (with a few deviations, reflecting disruptions in the investment market or significant bequests).
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” is structured in a way that still meets the needs of the denomination today”.
This is a easy fix, restructure the entire organzational system in the pcusa from top to bottom.
“the Office of Public Witness in Washington D.C.”
This is easy close this office down
“more than $5.2 million that the Ghost Ranch and Stony Point conference centers owe the PC(USA)”
Sell all or part this land, we don’t need it, as much as louisville wants to become the religious version of Caldwell Banker, it’s time to wake up and move on.
“Linda Valentine, executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, said the shift to giving to parachurch organizations and other nonprofits goes back for years – in part a reflection of donors’ desire to give specifically to causes they support”
And Ms Valentine, why do you think this is? And you may have won the socials issues battle, but people have been voting with their wallets for years, until you all in louisville wake and realize it’s a whole ball game, you may have won the culture war, but you WILL never be able enjoy the victory!
Totally agree. There are scads of charities that support causes around the world. Personally, I support only the money that goes into my church itself but when someone in session said that only 10% goes to the PCUSA, I said that was 10% too much. Therefore, and without shame, I do not tithe. I do contribute to the local foodbank collections the church supports, I do buy paper goods for feeding the homeless each month, but support the PCUSA in any way? Nope, not gonna do it.
You cannot blame people for not supporting missions that are going to support and spread a false doctrine.
If you are a supporter of the GA and Louisville, time for you to step up and do the heavy lifting. The rest of us have had it.
Isn’t it true that a warning was given to General Assembly commissioners
that the decisions they were making would harm the Missionary partners.
They did not care and plowed ahead with their agenda.
This was in relationship to the change in defining marriage, but the actions against Israel would also be problematic as well as a stance on abortion. The actions were theological divergence from Scripture and political. The harm is now also being shown in monetary terms. This is a result of the
decisions willingly made against God’s word. Why would we be surprised when God withdraws support, growth, or blessing to this denomination?
The cries go up, but are they cries of repentance or just self righteousness
and whining?
It is a reflection of the unrest and dissatisfaction throughout the PC(USA). Many members and congregations are withholding GA per capita in protest of recent actions and statements. Too much money is going to groups that do not reflect mainline desires. As membership goes down, so does the funding. As younger members treat the denomination more casually than past generations, so down goes the funding. It is time for changes at the very roots of the denomination if we are to survive. No more business as usual. Chasing the political and cultural whims as we have been doing will just not cut it today.
Disfuncional denomination which is run by three blind mice. This is the end result when the leaders have left their GOD aside . Truly sad. I was so happy to join the Presbyterian Church when I was 22 and now I am 66. Things went down hill when the two denominations joined together for the worst.
AMEN
A couple who served faithfully for over 20 years in a mission service of PCUSA received their news from Louisville- WE are very Sorry, however, you are cut from the mission service by December. You have six mos. to receive your serverance payment. The couple were shocked! This is how this denomination treat its missionaries who they don´t want to support by simply saying – WE don´t have money. By the way, the folks who called them , still have their job in a comfortable office full of snacks and foods, go back to their nice homes, come in to the office any time and leave any time without any problem.
Beehold , God is not mocked!
When it is running by three blind mice- what do you get? More money werewasted with 0 output .