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09254
March 27, 2009
GAC closes $9.92 million 2009 mission budget gap
Global economic crisis, strategic planning shape package of expense cuts, use of reserves
LOUISVILLE ― The General Assembly Council (GAC) closed a $9.92 million shortfall in the 2009 General Assembly Mission Budget today (March 27), making budget reductions of $3.99 million and using unspent previous year revenue totaling $5.93 million.
In doing so, the council reduced the mission budget from $110,885,317 ― which it approved last September ― to $106,914,584. The overall 4 percent budget reduction includes a 16 percent decrease in unrestricted spending and a 1 percent increase in restricted expenditures.
The budget cuts announced today include the elimination of 14 incumbent positions and 19 vacant positions at the Presbyterian Center here.
Combined with personnel actions prior to this meeting which impact the 2009 budget, the GAC staff has been reduced by a net total of 44 positions, with 56 positions eliminated and 12 new ones created. The GAC staff now numbers just over 400, not including mission co-workers, conference center staff at Ghost Ranch and Stony Point and other GAC-related entities.
“The decision to eliminate positions was difficult,” said GAC Executive Director Linda Valentine in a press release issued shortly after the GAC adjourned its May 25-27 meeting. “We know it will have a real-life impact on people for whom we care and with whom we have worked side by side. We truly appreciate the work of all our employees. I want to personally thank those who are leaving us for their efforts on behalf of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).”
Four minister members of Mid-Kentucky Presbytery will be at the center Friday afternoon to counsel with affected employees. Central Presbyterian Church here has scheduled a “Service of Gratitude, Lament and Hope” Monday evening (March 30) at 5:30 in its sanctuary.
Throughout the meeting here and in a budget orientation video released last week, GAC staff leaders have emphasized that that the budget-reduction decisions have been accompanied by an accelerating strategic vision process designed to “reshape” the GAC’s work.
“This process has been going on at least as long as I’ve been at the GAC,” Valentine said earlier this week. She began work as the GAC’s top executive in July 2006.
“This has been a constant process of reshaping our mission and ministry,” Valentine said. “We relentlessly ask: ‘What are we uniquely positioned to do? What do we do best? What does the church most need from us?’”
In addition to across the board cuts of 10 percent in postage and mailing and 15 percent in travel, the cuts reflect this strategic realignment.
A number of service and program areas have been eliminated: Media Services (last fall), National Health Ministries, and a training event for mission personnel in the Middle East and Central Asia. The budget cuts also reduce support for military chaplains by about 5 percent and Mission Program Grants (by suspending the fall cycle of grants).
Other programmatic work has been restructured, including:
- the Evangelism area in Evangelism and Church Growth;
- the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program;
- the Christian Formation office in Theology Worship and Education;
- Church Financial Campaign Services (in December 2008);
- Financial Aid for Studies in the Vocation ministry area;
- combining youth ministries with collegiate ministries in Evangelism and Church Growth;
- combining the Educational Ministries office with Curriculum Publishing’s marketing office;
- combining the Child Advocacy and Social Welfare Organizations offices; and
- moving the Multicultural Ministries office from Evangelism and Church Growth to Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/PW and renaming it Multicultural Congregational Support. That office and the congregational enhancement offices will be blended into a new Office of Cross-cultural ministries and Congregational Support.
Additional savings are being realized by foregoing a planned $500,000 allocation to the Capital Reserve Fund; by changing payroll software, and by renegotiating some contracts with outside vendors.
A mandatory one-week furlough for all GAC staff, May 18-22 ― announced earlier ― is expected to save in excess of $420,000.
“Some of the changes to our budget were made to improve our flexibility, effectiveness and responsiveness, while others are purely cost-cutting measures,” said Joey Bailey, treasurer and chief financial officer, in the press release. “Overall, I think the new budget reflects our commitment to being responsible stewards of the funds that are entrusted to us, being accountable to the church, and to our constituents.”
Valentine acknowledged that the GAC faces a “similar projected shortfall next year.” The council will take up that task at its September meeting. But in her closing remarks to the council, she remained upbeat.
“The cup is more than half-full,” she said Friday morning. “It is overflowing with the mission and ministry of Presbyterians all over the world. Soon we’ll be moving from Lent to Easter,” she said, “and there’s an incredible amount of good news to tell.”
Eliminated positions
The 14 incumbent staff positions eliminated March 27:
- Communication and Funds Development: art director, Presbyterians Today
- Compassion, Peace and Justice: associate, Social Welfare Organizations
- Compassion, Peace and Justice: administrative assistant, Director’s Office
- Compassion, Peace and Justice: associate, network support (part-time), Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
- Compassion, Peace and Justice: administrative assistant, Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
- Compassion, Peace and Justice: administrative assistant, Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
- Compassion, Peace and Justice: associate, National Health Ministries
- Compassion, Peace and Justice: associate for program resource development (term), National Health Ministries
- Evangelism and Church Growth: associate, collegiate ministries
- Evangelism and Church Growth: program assistant, collegiate ministries
- Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women: administrative assistant
- Shared Services: maintenance engineer, Building Services
- Theology Worship and Education: administrative assistant, Theology and Worship
- Theology Worship and Education: associate, Christian Education, Middle Governing Bodies
A complete list of previously eliminated incumbent and vacant positions as well as vacant positions eliminated March 27 is available online. |
