National Ministries staff leader cites decline of funds in PCUSA By Paula R. Kincaid The Layman Online Friday, September 24, 2004 LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In his report to the National Ministries Division Committee on Friday morning, Director Curtis Kearns addressed three issues he said would impact the work of not only the committee but also the General Assembly Council in 2005-2006. Kearns said the issues – which have been discussed by the NMD staff leadership team – "face us all as council members." The first issue he said was resources. "Indeed, we have the challenge of diminishing resources." Kearns said that, while everyone has heard about the decline in unrestricted funds, there is "also a corresponding decline for various reasons in restricted dollars and that has major implications for the work of the council and its future." He said the decline in restricted funds is being felt in all the divisions of the General Assembly Council and he said the "challenge will be how we will face the declining funds." Kearns also spoke of the reorganization of work and personnel due to the Mission Work Plan, the two-year budget for work of the GAC in 2005-2006. He said that work areas in the Presbyterian Center have undergone several changes in previous years, going from units to program areas, and "now we are into the goal structure and that goal structure looks very different from any other organizational change we've had through the years." Kearns third point was that the denomination "is really divided by opinions." There is much anger, consternation, disagreement in the church, he said, "and that is caused basically by the fact that society as well as the church is really divided by opinions." It's not an 80-20 split he said, but more a 50-50 split and that means "there is no interpretation that can be taken at the national level that will not draw substantial criticism and comments from the 40 percent who don't agree," he said. "You should be very aware of the actions you are taking, and be able to explain to you congregations why you did that," he said.

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