Generosity of PCUSA helps keep WCC afloat The Layman Online Friday, September 3,1999 The World Council of Churches logo The World Council of Churches is in dire financial straits, its governing Central Committee was told recently. But the ecumenical and controversial body would be far worse off if it were not for the generosity of the Presbyterian Church (USA). According to Ecumenical News International, the moderator of the WCC's finance committee, Bishop Wolfgang Huber, a Protestant from Germany, told the central committee recently that on current figures the WCC was facing a deficit of at least 300,000 Swiss Francs (US $200,000) this year, due to a "tremendous decrease" in contributions by member churches. The last published figures on support by the PCUSA were in The World Council of Churches Financial Report 1996, which listed PCUSA contributions that year at 1,830,480 Swiss Francs, about $1.2 million in US dollars. PCUSA top supporter in US That contribution made the PCUSA the leading denominational supporter for the WCC in the United States – even ahead of the WCC's strongest American ally, the National Church of Churches of Christ. The NCCC contribution in 1996 was 1.2 million Swiss Francs or about $800,000 US dollars. Of the US denominations, the United Methodist Church was second to the PCUSA in its support of the WCC, according to the council's documents. Methodist support was 1,221,037 Swiss Francs or $805,197 in US dollars. The United Methodist Church has nearly three times as many members as the PCUSA. The Disciples of Christ (Christian) ranked third in support at $415,310 in US dollars, followed by (5th) the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, $325,515; (6th) the Episcopal Church, $234,046; (7th) the United Church of Christ, $227,821; and (8th) the American Baptist Church, $75,154. Although the WCC finance committee has not presented a budget for 2000, initial figures suggested that there would be further reductions in contributions by member churches, Bishop Huber said, although he did not specify any amount. He said that the WCC's executive committee had instructed staff to make cuts to bring the deficit down to no more than 50 000 Swiss Francs this year. There would have to be further cuts in 2000 if no new sources of income could be found, so that the deficit in 2000 also would not exceed 50 000 Swiss Francs.

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