After engaging in passionate discussion in support of the ministry of the whole church, the assembly adopted a spending authorization plan for 2011 in the total amount of $2,808,595. This was adopted in the anticipation that the future revenue will be at the same level as 2009.

Janet Neff, chair of the synod’s finance committee, reviewed the current financial situation and its historical context, indicating that 96 percent of the synod’s revenues come from partnership support.  While giving in congregations has nearly doubled since 1985, congregational support of the synod has gone down and in 2008 was actually less than in 1985, not adjusted for inflation.

Neff asked the assembly to remember where they were in 1985. “Could you live on that money today?” she asked. “That’s where the synod is today.”

Treasurer Dick Reimet earlier reported that Partnership Support contributions from congregations was $266,000 less than anticipated in 2009, and the synod finished the year with a $305,000 deficit. The 2011 budget and the 2010 spending plan each anticipate deficits of approximately $280,000.

• Download PDF of the budget slides (Acrobat, 5 MB)
• Watch video of the budget presentation, discussion and vote.

Larry House, a member of the synod’s finance committee, said he remembers how he repeatedly told the assemblies of previous years that revenues were at the same levels at 1985. 

“And, we’re still saying it. Our problem is not that we don’t have the money, but that the vision of what is going on in the entire ministry of the church has been lost,” he said.

House noted that of total giving to ELCA congregations, 7% is sent to synods and churchwide for ministry beyond the congregations.

In order to address the current financial situation the 2010 and 2011 budgets have been cut to bare-bones.  Two vacant staff positions, one pastoral and one administrative, have remained unfilled. Both the Synod Council and Synod Staff have also made personal commitments to help with the budget crisis. Ninety-three percent of Synod Council and 100% of the Synod Staff have made gifts totaling $11,060 toward reducing the deficit.

Tom Conroy, Reformation, Media, asked if there is a contingency plan in case additional revenue is not raised.  Neff responded that the synod is establishing a task force to look at the fiscal issues and work to align expenditures more closely with the synod’s mission.  The task force will also look at strengthening relationships with congregations.

Partnership support is the lifeblood of the whole church,” said Neff. “Your offering supports more of the whole ELCA doing God’s work in the world. We are the church with three expressions in the world: congregations, synods, and the ELCA churchwide organization.”

Bill Andrews, St. Luke, Devon, gave the assembly the image of the church as a three-legged stool. If one leg is shorter than the others then the stool won’t stand.

“We are the synod,” he said. “We are the ELCA. For this system to work our resources need to be shared fairly.”

Neff indicated that a copy of the slide show presentation she used would be available on the synod’s website on Tuesday for voting members to use it in their congregations as they discuss giving when they return home from the assembly.