• In the year 2000 congregations of the SEPA Synod gave $3,011,542 in mission support
• In the year 2006 congregations of the SEPA Synod gave $2,786,743 in mission support
• This is an actual reduction to the Synod of almost a quarter of a million dollars
• In the year 2000, $3,011,542 had purchasing power equal to $3,526,128 today
• This is reduction to the Synod of almost three quarters of a million dollars in adjusted 2006 dollars, or more than 20%
• During this same time Regular Giving by members to the congregations of our Synod  rose from $29,792,633 to $32,764,003.  This is an actual increase of almost 3 million dollars or 10%
• In 2000 mission support was 6.5% of total congregational expense in our synod
• In 2006 mission support was 4.9% of total congregational expense in our synod
• While giving to congregations has increased close to 10%, giving to unrestricted mission support decreased more than 20%
• If congregations of the SEPA synod had contributed 6.5% of their expense as mission support in 2005 as they did in 2000, total mission support for 2005 would have been $3,742,469.  If they had tithed total income it would have been $5,448,743
• Actual total mission support in 2005 was $2,822,599
• All New Missions in the ELCA are expected to tithe 15% of their member giving to the Synod
• In congregations that tithe 10% of total income to the Synod, individual member giving to the congregation typically grew most in the years following an increase in the proportion of congregation funds forwarded as mission support.  In other words, member generosity followed congregational generosity
• Proportionate share is based on member giving.  Four very generous congregations in our synod tithed their total congregational receipts, not just member giving in 2006
• Congregational giving to non-ELCA benevolences increased from 2000 to 2006. In the same time frame congregational giving to the World Hunger Appeal dropped by over $80,000 and Missionary Sponsorship dropped by $7000

We can do together what we cannot do alone.  Your Mission Support makes a difference!