April 9, 2009

CHICAGO – A significant decline in financial resources for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) led to budget reductions for the churhwide organization, particularly for ELCA Global Mission. The reduction will affect the church's ministry overseas.

ELCA Global Mission reduced its budget by $3.6 million or 11.4 percent. More than 40 percent of the unit's budget is made up of funds raised through the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. The amount allocated to Global Mission from the appeal for 2009 was reduced by $2.3 million. The 2009 income goal for the appeal is $18.7 million, reduced $1.9 million from what was anticipated. Global Mission also receives mission support – funds that flow from congregations through synods to the churchwide organization. Mission support for Global Mission was reduced by $1.3 million.

The budget reductions "will hit hard companion churches and the Lutheran World Federation at a time when they, too, have to deal with the impact of the worldwide financial crisis, which is resulting in (an additional) 46 million people falling into poverty," said the Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director, ELCA Global Mission. His comments were in an April 3 letter to ELCA mission personnel and former missionaries, friends of Global Mission, synod colleagues and members of partner agencies.

"We regret the impact Global Mission's funding reductions will have on our ecumenical and interfaith partners, and on Lutheran World Relief, the ELCA's common ministry with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod," said Malpica Padilla.

His letter provided an overview of the impact the unit's budget reduction on the ELCA's ministries overseas:

• A reduction of more than $54,000 for leadership development will mean fewer new scholarships to companion church leaders and the elimination of sabbaticals for these leaders.

• Grants to support key ministries of companion churches will be cut by $525,000.

• A reduction of more than $400,000 will mean at least eight fewer ELCA missionaries to be deployed in 2009. No current mission personnel are being recalled as a result of the budget reductions.

• The 2009 grant to the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) will be reduced by more than $350,000. "This reduction comes at a time when the LWF is facing significant funding shortfalls that are threatening core ministries," Malpica Padilla said. The LWF is a global communion of churches representing 68.5 million Lutherans.

• Support for ecumenical and interchurch agencies will be reduced by $85,000. The 2009 grant for Lutheran World Relief (LWR) will be cut by $830,000. "Global Mission will work with LWR to minimize the impact of this reduction on program and project work in other countries, which is supported by gifts to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal," Malpica Padilla said.

• Staff travel, services and support for the unit's various programs and functions were cut by $160,000. Some Chicago-based staff positions will be reduced or eliminated.

At the conclusion of his letter, Malpica Padilla asked for prayers for the ELCA "as it looks toward the future" and for "our companions and partners who will experience difficulties and lost opportunities."

"I also ask you to do whatever you can to engage with ELCA members and congregations in your circles of ministry to thank them for the continued faithful giving in these difficult times, and to encourage them to give generously to increase both mission support and ELCA World Hunger income, so that the ELCA can continue the strong global engagement to which it is called," he said.

Information about ELCA Global Mission is at AgL>CA.org/globalmission/

ELCA News Service