Funding increase sought for Washington Office By Robert P. Mills The Layman Online Thursday, May 27, 1999 The National Network of Presbyterian College Women is not the only controversial Presbyterian agency in line for a funding increase from the Fort Worth General Assembly. While no specific dollar figure is targeted, if Overture 99-22 from the Presbytery of Utah is approved, the Washington Office will see an increase in its nearly half-million dollar annual budget. Lodged in the National Ministries Division, the Washington Office is the lobbying arm of the Presbyterian Church (USA). While more than 50 percent of PCUSA members are registered Republicans, the list of causes promoted by the Washington Office reads like the Democratic Party platform. In recent years it has supported partial birth abortions while lobbying against prayer in public schools and protection of believers from religious persecution. For example, in a press release dated July 23, 1996, Washington Office director Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory wrote, "If the legislation entitled, 'Legislation to Further Protect Religious Freedom' were to become law, it could bring about situations that would cloud a young individual's understanding of God. … "A vote against this legislation would still leave young people with the right to explore their faith at home under the direction and support of family. … "If school officials are allowed to lead prayer or Bible study, impressionable young students may be subjected to forms of prayer or religious behavior that is alien to the faith of their families." And although the Washington Office is supposed to lobby only for positions adopted by the General Assembly, in 1994 it was harshly critical of the Contract with America proposed by Republican legislators, this despite the fact that the Contract was released several months after the Assembly had adjourned. Funding increase urged In urging increased funding, Utah Presbytery calls the Washington Office "a vital link" with many of the denomination's most liberal activist groups, "including, but not limited to: Congregational Ministries: Older Adult Leader Development/Family Ministries; Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, and the United Nations Office; National Ministries: Racial Ethnic Ministries; Social Justice; Child Advocacy; Criminal Justice, Health Ministries; Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA), Mission Responsibility Investment/Environmental Justice (MRTI); Women's Ministry; Worldwide Ministries: International Health Ministries; the Presbyterian Hunger Program and Area Associates." The presbytery asks the Assembly to: "1. Provide a larger portion of undesignated funds to enable the Washington Office to fully carry out the mandates of the 1999 General Assembly and past General Assemblies; and "2. Ensure that the Washington Office automatically receives funds, from those designated funds (Special Offerings) which have a public policy aspect in their description and use. The proposal comes at the same time that the National Ministries Division is proposing to eliminate from its budget funding for the Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel.

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