LOUISVILLE — The per capita rate for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) would rise 15 cents in 2007 and would stay at that rate in 2008, if the General Assembly approves a recommendation coming its way.
That change, if approved, would set the per capita rate at $5.72 per active member for both 2007 and 2008, compared with $5.57 per member now.
Despite that proposed increase, however, there won’t be enough money to go around. Both the Office of the General Assembly and the General Assembly Council “faced the reality that major reductions would be necessary unless there was a very substantial increase in the per capita rate, which we determined would create a very real hardship for the church,” a joint report to the council and to the Committee on the Office states.
So a lower rate of increase was proposed, and both the Office of the General Assembly and the council “are making major reductions in expenditures for the next two years,” the report states.
The per capita budget being proposed for 2007, at $12.4 million, and for 2008, at $14.9 million, will be slightly less than the 2005-2006 budget, even with inflation and some necessary additional costs. So cuts are coming from other areas, including staffing levels, ecumenical expenses and funding for the Presbyterian Historical Society.
“We believe that such restraint in the increase in the per capita rate and the expenditure level are necessary for the well-being of the church and the fiscal integrity of the per capita budget,” the report states, asking General Assembly commissioners to also show restraint in asking for new initiatives that would cost more money.
Both the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly and the General Assembly Council are meeting this week in Louisville; they will consider the per capita recommendation and, if it’s approved, send it on to the assembly in June.
The report also says the per capita collection rate is more than 98 percent, but building the per capita budgets “continues to be a challenge.” Revenues are affected by stock market fluctuations, membership loss, natural disasters and other factors, including congregations withholding per capita funds, which presbyteries may then try to make up.
And among the factors causing increased expenditures: an increase of 200 commissioners with the move to every-other-year assemblies, and the higher cost of holding an assembly on the West Coast, in San Jose in 2008.
On the opening day of its meeting Feb. 6, the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly also:
· Voted to hold the General Assembly in 2012 from June 30 to July 7 in Pittsburgh.
· Learned there will be two pre-assembly events just before this year’s assembly convenes in Birmingham. Those two events — one on proposed selective, phased divestment in some companies doing business in Israel and one organized by the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the PC(USA) — both will be held the morning of Thursday, June 15.
· Considered revised rules for holding elections for the denomination’s stated clerk. Among the changes being proposed: the committee considering nominations for the position would not also review the performance of the incumbent; and candidates would not be allowed to distribute any materials “that would denote a campaign” for office. That’s in recognition, the report states, that the stated clerk’s office “is a calling, and not a popularity contest.” The General Assembly would need to approve any changes.
