ITASCA, Ill. (ELCA) -- Despite the financial challenges of 2009, much of it the result of the downturn in the U.S. economy, the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) finished the year with net income of $3.9 million.

Christina Jackson-Skelton, ELCA treasurer, reported to the ELCA Conference of Bishops meeting here that current operating income to the churchwide organization in 2009 was $76.5 million, down nearly $7 million from the previous year. Current operating funds expenses were $72.6 million, down by $7.6 million from the previous year. The ELCA's 2009 fiscal year ended Jan. 31.

A key reason for the reduced income was a decrease in mission support to the churchwide organization to $59.7 million, a historic low. Mission support funds are shared by congregations with synods, which commit a percentage of their funds for churchwide ministries.

Jackson-Skelton reported that in 2009 mission support income was reduced by 64 synods, 53 with decreases of greater than 5 percent, and 19 of those with decreases exceeding 10 percent.

Early last year the ELCA Church Council, the church's board of directors, cut the churchwide budget based on lower income projections. Their actions eliminated about 35 full-time equivalent positions.

In addition to the current operating funds, contributions to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal in 2009 were $19.6 million, exceeding the budgeted amount by nearly $850,000, Jackson-Skelton reported.

• Read the ELCA's full release.