PORTLAND, OR (July 1, 2009) \u2013 Delegates to the now-concluded 124th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church approved a Mission and Ministry Budget of $20,186,000.
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\nThe budget is $359,000 less than the 2009 budget. Dean Lundgren, vice president for finance and treasurer, said the economic downturn was a major factor in reducing the budget.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout question, for almost all nonprofit organizations, 2009 and 2010 budget development is taking place in the most challenging economic financial environment in our work lifetimes,\u201d Lundgren told the delegates.<\/p>\n
Lundgren told delegates that developing the budget meant adhering to four principles:
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It must be realistic, recognizing the current economic environment
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It must be do-able, with support from God and the churches
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It must advance mission and ministry
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Activities must be reviewed to see if they continue to serve the central mission, and eliminated if they do not so that funds can be freed for new priorities<\/p>\n
The budget format reflects the work of all mission and ministry initiatives, including core operating budget ministries, but also affiliated ministries such as Covenant World Relief, Paul Carlson Partnership, Sustaining Pastoral Excellence, Covenant Orientation, short-term and project missionaries, and missionary in-country projects, among others.<\/p>\n
Budget allocations include:
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 World Mission \u2013 $8,712,000 (42.3 percent)
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Compassion, Mercy and Justice \u2013 $3,717,000 (18.4 percent)
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Church Growth and Evangelism \u2013 $3,876,000 (19.2 percent)
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Christian Formation – $1,119,000 (5.6 percent)
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ordered Ministry \u2013 $1,621,000 (8 percent)
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 North Park University and Theological Seminary \u2013 $1,140,000 (5.6 percent)<\/p>\n
Because the work of the Department of Communication and general administration functions serve all of the other ministry areas, those two areas of expense are allocated to the various ministry initiatives commensurate with the contributions made in each ministry area, as well as those areas\u2019 percentage of total expenses. Those two areas continue to manage individual departmental budgets as do the other ministry areas.<\/p>\n
Lundgren noted that of the total budget, 59 percent was dedicated to international mission and 41 percent to domestic ministry.<\/p>\n
Revenue to support the 2010 Mission and Ministry Budget is projected to come from the following sources, expressed in percentage terms:
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Local Church giving \u2013 42 percent
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Directed individual and church giving \u2013 33 percent
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fund transfers \u2013 7 percent
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Individuals \u2013 6 percent
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Communication sales \u2013 2 percent
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Other support \u2013 10 percent<\/p>\n
The 2010 budget assumes church giving will be equal to that of last year\u2019s, Lundgren said, noting that giving to date in 2009 is running somewhat behind the 2008 level at the same point in time. He encouraged delegates to seek increased financial support from their respective congregations in support of shared ministries at conference and denominational levels.<\/p>\n