International Mission
In 2005 almost 400 mission personnel are deployed around the world, including both long term and short-term volunteers. They work closely with 167 partner churches in over 80 countries.

New Church Development
In 2003 the General Assembly Council will make $1.2 million in new grants to new church development and church redevelopment. Presbyteries must be able to fund a portion of these ministries in order to receive these grants. Both the General Assembly Council and presbyteries have been focused significantly on racial ethnic church development.

Future Needs
More needs to be done, especially in international mission and church development in the United States. Jesus commands us to "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole of creation." (Mark 16: 15) An analysis of international mission needs and church development opportunities show that demand far exceeds available resources. We are called to respond faithfully to the Great Commandment.

This is a pivotal moment as the PC(USA) witnesses to God's grace, love, and peace in an ever-changing world. We will be bolder in witnessing through our church growth and mission personnel. Through this effort, we seek to maintain current levels of mission work, and seek to move into a new era in innovative ways for funding all aspects of the church's mission.

Without new funds, the PC(USA) will no longer be able to support significant numbers of international mission personnel. They incarnate the gospel in their work with partner churches in God's mission in the world. Representing every Presbyterian congregation in this country, international mission is lived out in ways that individuals or separate communities of faith could not accomplish on their own. This collective presence offers all Presbyterians global opportunities for Christian discipleship. Lives are transformed through encounters with sisters and brothers in Christ around the world.

Without new funds, the PC(USA) will not be able to reverse the trend of annual net losses in our denomination's membership nor will we be in a position to meet the opportunities to grow churches in areas of increased racial ethnic and immigrant populations. In the last forty years no new endowments for new church development and church redevelopment have been established at the national level. While primary responsibility for church development resides with the presbyteries, the national church has the responsibility to ensure that vital church-wide resources are developed and shared throughout the whole denomination.