Presbyterians cut jobs, budget. .

Christian Century, May 8, 2002

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is cutting up to 77 jobs among its national headquarters workers and long-term missionaries as part of a $5.7 million budget reduction that includes several programming eliminations.

Most of the 43 dismissed staff persons at the offices of the denomination in Louisville, Kentucky, were to leave by May 3. The reduced budget of $130 million for 2003 was approved April 26 by the General Assembly Council (GAC) executive committee by a 10-1 vote. "I think it was a strong vote affirming what needed to be done, but it was given with a sense of pain," GAC executive director John Detterick told Presbyterian News Service.

The denomination needed to find ways to make up for a $3 million shortfall while still paying for more than $2 million in new spending. Income for the church, including $900,000 in investments, fell short of projections. However, Detterick told the executive committee that it was unclear whether the cuts will solve the denomination's financial problems.

The budget must be approved by the General Assembly, which will meet in Columbus, Ohio, June 15-22. The annual legislative body of the PCUSA will face no overtures, or resolutions, this year on whether to allow ordination of gay and lesbian clergy; one such proposal lost decisively this year in voting by presbyteries. Delegates will discuss some bedrock theological issues--including matters that are often as divisive as the gay issue. The latest Presbyterian poll found that church members only narrowly (52 percent) support a "big tent" church that accepts diverse viewpoints. A church that requires uniformity of belief was favored by 47 percent. About 55 percent of elders and three-quarters of pastors said they prefer a "big tent" approach on theology and practice.

The recent layoffs and program reductions came after the General Assembly had voted in February to fund two new mission priorities--a $500,000 new curriculum titled "We Believe" and $1 million to underwrite the first year of a fund drive to help finance new church development, among other programs. Another $670,000 was set aside for modest salary raises.

In approving the cuts, GAC executive committee members described their meeting as "anxiety-filled" at times. When names of those being fired were given, council member Emily Wigger of Alton, Illinois, said in a prayer, "The names we've seen represent many years of faithful service to your church. Reach out to them with a mother's tender care."

As part of the downsizing, the church will not fill 34 overseas missionary positions that will open as missionaries retire or complete their terms of service. In Louisville, 21 currently vacant positions will be eliminated. The Peacemaking Advisory Committee, established in 1980, will be discontinued. Some grants to other bodies--including the financially troubled National Council of Churches--were eliminated.--RNS