GAC09003
March 24, 2009

PC(USA) General Assembly Council leaders outline 2009 budget strategy

For more information, contact Rob Bullock at (502) 569-5101.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — At a meeting here today, the Executive Committee of the General Assembly Council (GAC) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) reviewed the process and strategies used to make recommendations to address an anticipated shortfall in the 2009 GAC mission budget.

Linda Valentine, GAC executive director, and Tom Taylor, deputy executive director for mission, gave a joint overview of the strategic approach used to make the recommendations. Joey Bailey, chief financial officer, discussed revised projections of revenues and funds available, and provided a high-level summary of plans to balance the budget. The recommendations include measures to reduce costs, reshape ministries to best serve the church, and utilize certain restricted funds not previously budgeted.

“Our leadership team has been engaged for more than two years in a process to reshape the GAC according to the priorities of the Mission Work Plan,” said Valentine. “The national economic situation accelerated this process and also led to additional cost-cutting measures.”

Guiding principles have included focusing on what the GAC can do uniquely and best for the church, removing organizational “silos,” and furthering the directives of the General Assembly as identified in the Mission Work Plan. In reshaping the GAC, key factors included aligning programs to be effective, efficient and synergistic; eliminating work that could be better performed by congregations or middle governing bodies; and consolidating and streamlining programs and staff.

The GAC 2009 mission budget approved in September 2008 was $110,885,317.

“Our revenue projections leave us with a shortfall of about $9.92 million,” said Bailey. “We’ve outlined recommendations that will reduce expenses by $3.99 million. Additional revenue from prior year accumulations totaling $5.93 million will cover the remainder of the shortfall, for a proposed 2009 mission budget of $106,914,584.”

Valentine and Taylor are featured in a video available at the GAC Web site in which they discuss the approach used during the budgeting process.

Budget discussions by the General Assembly Council continue through this week and final decisions are expected on Friday afternoon, March 27.