PCUSA is leading contributor to National Council of Churches By John H. Adams The Layman Online Wednesday, November 17, 1999 Who's paying the bills for the National Council of Churches? Among its member denominations, the Presbyterian Church (USA) is No. 1. According to the NCC's figures, the PCUSA contributed $2,066,202 in cash support during the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 1999. Furthermore, the denomination is considering a $600,000 contribution to bail the NCC out of its $4-million 1999 budget deficit. The PCUSA also provides substantial benefit to the NCC by contributing PCUSA staff to NCC tasks. Called "co-opted staff," these persons are paid by the PCUSA but serve as NCC staff members. And Cliff Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the PCUSA, gathered up $25,000 from his 1998 budget leftovers to help fund the NCC's lavish 50th birthday party. Party cost NCC $750,000 That party, by the way, was supposed to cost $300,000. After overruns, the bill was $750,000. According to the Ecumenical News Service, the celebration will add $50,000 to $150,000 to the deficit. Council staff members had assured the NCC's Executive Board that private and corporate donations plus income from participants' registration would adequately cover celebration expenses. So far, the PCUSA's 1999 contribution to the NCC is more than any other denomination – and $600,000-plus more than the second-place United Methodist Church which has nearly three times as many members as the PCUSA. Top 10 supporters According to the NCC, the 10 denominations, or communions, that gave the most during the fiscal year ended Sept. 30 are: Denomination 1999 NCC budget Membership Dollars per capita 1. Presbyterian Church (USA) $2,066,202 2.5 million .83 2. United Methodist Church $1,443,150 8.5 million .17 3. United Church of Christ $1,165,743 1.4 million .83 4. American Baptist Churches $526,818 1.5 million .35 5. Evangelical Lutheran Church $517,622 5.1 million .10 6. Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) $378,877 853,330 .44 7. Church of the Brethren $378,695 144,000 2.62 8. Episcopal Church $367,437 2.3 million .16 9. Reformed Church in America $138,354 183,352 .75 10. Joint Treasury (CC/DOM & UCBWM) $64,837 N/A N/A The National Council of Churches says it has 35 denominations, or communions. Only 22 are listed as contributing during the fiscal year ended Sept. 30. One of those, Friends United Meeting, gave only $25 – .000625 percent of the budget deficit. Thirteen had zeroes in the contribution column. Budget no-shows The 1999 budget no-shows were the AME Zion Church, the Antiochian Orthodox Church, the Armenian Church of America, the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Korean Presbyterian Church, the National Baptist Convention of America, National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, the Orthodox Church in America, the Patriarchal Parishes of Russian Orthodox Churches, the Polish National Church of America, the Progressive National Baptist Convention, the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the Ukranian Orthodox Church in America. NCC officials say one strategy for resolving the budget shortfall and establishing a budget for 2000 will be to get all members to pay a share of the costs.

Respond to this article

News From the PCUSA · Home · News · PLC Publications · The Presbyterian Layman Online Reviews · Archives · History of the Lay Committee · Feedback · Links