| Even as almanacs become dated and
wear out, so too do patterns of giving and mission support. You
have undoubtedly heard that the Worldwide Ministries Division of
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is facing a serious financial crisis.
If things do not change there will be a shortfall of $1.2 million
in 2003 and $4.5 million in 2004. Recent changes in the financial
markets have brought about a 30%-40%drop in interest earnings on
endowments and investment portfolios. In the last ten years there
has been a decrease in giving to religious institutions in the U.S.
from 53.7% to 36.5%. Congregations are now designating their gifts
rather than sending them to Louisville. More congregations are giving
to para-church mission organizations and some funding that used
to go to support mission co-workers is now being used for mission
trips and short-term mission projects initiated by congregations.
Furthermore, there is no longer the annual Witness Season offering
that was specially designated for international mission personnel.
Financially, we are like the old almanac—splitting apart, wearing
out, and becoming completely out of date.
In view of this, two bold new funding initiatives are being undertaken
by the PC(USA). The first of these is for the short term. Three
special accounts have been set up through Extra Commitment Opportunities
to raise funds for the overall international mission program of
the church. These accounts are:
- International Mission Personnel (#E048024) This is for the
overall funding of mission personnel needs—salaries, training,
support, and pastoral care of mission co-workers, including
increasing the number of mission co-workers.
- Special Opportunities in Overseas Mission (#E864015) This
is for unanticipated needs around the world—special ministries,
emergency needs of partner churches, and for those one-time
mission opportunities that arise from time to time.
- Innovative Mission (#E047978) This is for new, experimental,
and innovative approaches to mission in a rapidly changing world.
At this Easter Season we would ask you to give generously to
these accounts so that our Presbyterian mission work around the
world may continue at full strength.
The second bold initiative is for the long term. This is a ten-year
funding campaign known as the Mission Initiative. Phase one of
this campaign seeks to raise $40 million from 2003-2006. You will
be hearing more about this Mission Initiative in the coming months.
This will be an opportunity for us as a church to seriously engage
the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Recent events show
that international mission is not an option—it is an imperative
which lies at the very heart of what it means to be the church,
the community of Christ, and the people of God.
The world is waiting to hear the Easter message of new life.
The world is waiting to hear that death is not the last word.
Perhaps we are reading too much symbolism in the old and new almanacs,
but the old one was rather provincial and inward looking—"The
Official Associated Press" almanac, while the new one is
more global in its perspective—"The World Almanac and
Book of Facts." The last big financial campaign in the PC(USA)
was called the Bicentennial Fund with obvious reference to the
United States as a nation. This new campaign is called the Mission
Initiative and it has no national, cultural, or ethnic borders;
it is a fund to support mission around the world.
As we enter the first decade of this new century and new millennium,
it just may be that God is preparing to do a new thing among us.
As mission co-workers in Korea, we are excited about what God
is doing in the world today and we are grateful for the support
of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). During this Easter Season
we join with Christians around the world in joyfully proclaiming,
"Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!"
Yours faithfully in mission,
Carol Chou Adams and Daniel J. Adams
The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 181
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