Having just returned from my synod assembly, I now have my copy of the over-sized, slick, color magazine, "Making Christ Known," from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
At the top of the welcome page in the magazine, it says its purpose is to tell
who we are as the ELCA, to "tell what we do through churchwide ministries," and
to "explain how churchwide ministries are funded." If you will not be attending
your synod assembly, you may order a copy from Augsburg Fortress or download the
magazine at:
www.elca.org/stewardship/makingchristknown07.html
The magazine is filled with many facts and figures, some of which caught my eye, the first on p. 4, in an article about ELCA global mission: "Thanks to your generosity, in 2006 . . . $9.2 million supported 284 missionaries in 48 countries."
Another article on pp. 10-11 explains how the ELCA churchwide spent its share of "mission support," in 2005, a total of about $65.5 million. ELCA synods pass along to the churchwide organization about 55% of what they receive in "mission support," or unrestricted benevolence from ELCA churches. The largest share of every $100 of mission support the churchwide organization received went to start new churches - $21.18 or 21.18 percent. That's good.
The second largest share, $19.65, funded "global partner churches in 60 countries, over 300 missionaries and overseas volunteers and the work of the Lutheran World Federation."
I wondered about a drop from "over 300" missionaries in one year to 284 the next. When I turned to p. 12, I found something that raised more questions. At the bottom of the page in a "Did You Know?" box, it says: "Missionaries: approx. 284 adult missionaries, of which some 79 are self-funded volunteers, serving in over 48 countries."
The information on p. 12, which appears to be accurate and consistent with the figures in the ELCA yearbook, means that the ELCA churchwide organization only funded about 200 missionaries in 2006. The 79 self-funded volunteers include what the ELCA yearbook lists as global mission associates, "ELCA persons serving outside of the U.S. with other organizations, whose service is officially recognized by Global Mission." For example, one of the "other organizations" whose missionaries are claimed by the ELCA is the independent Lutheran mission society, World Mission Prayer League. WMPL missionaries receive no financial support from the ELCA churchwide organization. Check out their website - www.wmpl.org/
So the churchwide budget supported only about 200 missionaries, not 284 as mentioned on p. 4. It is disturbing that the number of missionaries supported by the ELCA churchwide budget is down more than 50% from the 471 missionaries supported in 1989.
Skipping to the fifth largest share, we see--$6.12 or 6.12 percent--went for domestic social justice and advocacy education, which includes "advocacy with the United Nations, federal and state governments and corporate decision makers, community development, support of Lutheran Services of America and efforts toward full participation within the church of people of color and women." Advocacy means lobbying, which is how the ELCA staff in the Washington, DC, national advocacy office now regularly describes its activities.
The general funds in the churchwide budget are not the only source of funding for ELCA lobbying, however. World Hunger funds are also used. Some $4.90 of every $100 given by ELCA members to World Hunger is spent on advocacy - funding that national office in Washington, DC, and similar offices in more than 20 state capitals.
ELCA members gave generously to World Hunger thinking that they were helping to feed and clothe hungry people around the world, but most probably didn't know that 4.9% of their gifts supported ELCA lobbyists. Giving to World Hunger in 2005 was about $17 million and in 2006 was up to about $20 million, which meant that about $1 million of World Hunger money was spent on lobbying last year.
To know the total amount of money spent on lobbying you would have to add to the $1 million of World Hunger funds the share of ELCA mission support allocated for lobbying. I can't find a specific dollar amount for this on the ELCA website or in the magazine. It would have been part of the roughly $3.98 million or 6.12% of the $65.5 million received in 2005 and abut the same amount in 2006.
I question why the ELCA spends so much on lobbying and why the ELCA uses World Hunger funds for the lobbying.
The sixth largest share at $5.67 went for domestic witness, worship and evangelism, which included "public media news service, media relations, ELCA Resource Information Service, churchwide interpretation, congregational renewal, resource development, programs for youth and outdoor ministries, and Lutheran Youth Organization." Reading this description, I was left wondering if public relations, media relations and news services are being counted as evangelism. One thing is clear--social justice and lobbying are a greater priority in the churchwide budget than evangelism, whatever it means nowadays.
I learned a lot by reading my copy of the ELCA magazine at my synod assembly.