Title: Disciples register increase in '97 outreach giving
Date: January 22, 1998
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
98b-2
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Outreach giving by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1997 exceeded the 1996 figure by more than half a percent. The 1997 total, $133,310 is .67% increase over 1996.
And that's just part of the good news, according to the Rev. Robert K. Welsh, Church Finance Council president. For the first time in six years, giving to the church's family budget -- Basic Mission Finance -- increased every month in comparison to the previous year. Welsh calls the increases significant compared to figures showing a 30-month decrease in BMF from June 1992 through May 1995.
The total amount contributed to BMF in 1997 -- $20,064,899 -- is the highest amount given by Disciples in four years. Church members then gave $20,366,928.
Several regions showed major increases in outreach giving from congregations, including the Christian Church in Florida (9.3%), Montana (6.9%), Greater Kansas City (5.6%), Kentucky (4.3%), Oklahoma (4.3%), Pacific Southwest (4%), Kansas (3.9%), Ohio (3.8%), and the Southwest (3.5%).
Welsh expressed his excitement over the positive report on giving from congregations to the church's basic outreach fund. "I believe giving the Basic Mission Finance is an important gauge of the overall health and vitality of our church," he said.
"As important as the dollars received, the major significance of this year-long upturn' in giving is the clear sense of renewed congregational vitality, and the growing confidence and excitement in our church and its mission to the world."
-- end --