NCC lays off 17 more employees

Christian Century, Nov 22, 2000

The executive board of the financially strapped National Council of Churches approved a reorganization plan at its November 14 meeting in Atlanta prior to the ecumenical body's four-day General Assembly. The plan entails the elimination of 17 staff positions, effective November 20, and will reduce the number of NCC employees from 64 to 47, reported Presbyterian News Service. Earlier, three staffers were let go in September and ten were fired in December.

Phillip Young, a Presbyterian minister and outgoing treasurer for the council, said that the NCC has spent its reserve funds down to $3.4 million. Robert Edgar, NCC general secretary, has pledged not to spend any more reserve funds for operating expenses, limiting the organization of 35 member denominations to interest income from the reserves and other revenue. If the NCC starts "dipping into" the principal, Edgar said, "they'll have to find another general secretary."

A full report on the NCC will appear in the next issue of the CENTURY.