GAC09022
July 23, 2009

38 presbyteries honored for mission giving

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) honors generosity in several categories

Contact:
Susan Lindsey, (502) 569-5060

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is honoring presbyteries big and small across the country for their generous support of Presbyterian mission in 2008.

“Presbyterians feel passionate about mission on a local, national and global scale,” said Linda Valentine, executive director of the PC(USA) General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC). “The money donated by presbyteries each year means we can continue to engage in mission and ministry across the country and around the world.”

Support from presbyteries helped to fund an increase in international mission personnel, new church developments in 31 states, worship and study resources for pastors and church leadership, support for military chaplains, and other work of the church. The funding also supported responses to a range of disasters, including flooding in the Midwest and other parts of the United States, wildfires in South Carolina and California, hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, and international disasters such as the cyclone in Burma and the earthquake in China.

“Through their gifts, presbyteries support the vital mission and ministries of the church,” said Karen L. Schmidt, deputy executive director of Communications and Funds Development for the GAMC. “We truly appreciate the stewardship and support these presbyteries have demonstrated.”

“Top Ten” lists were compiled in four categories: total giving, basic mission support, special offerings, and other appeals. Within each category, the lists are sorted by total giving and by average giving per member. Several presbyteries were honored in more than one category. For example, the presbyteries of National Capital, Cascades and Donegal are each honored in five giving categories.

The Top Ten for total giving by dollar amount are:
National Capital – $997,771		Grace – $646,009
Philadelphia – 968,090		Detroit – $588,294
Chicago – $878,875		Los Ranchos – $580,066
Cascades – $801,816		Charlotte – $572,406
Donegal – $700,708		Mission – $546,395
The Top Ten for total giving by average per member are:
Alaska – $46.25 per member		Donegal – $33.26 per member
Santa Fe – $41.13 per member		Carlisle – $33.08 per member
Western Colorado – $40.29 per member		Cimarron – $32.79 per member
New Castle – $38.61 per member		Eastern Oregon – $32.09 per member
Southeastern Illinois – $36.37 per member		Cascades – $31.93 per member
The Top Ten for basic mission support by total dollar amount are:
Chicago – $450,089		Lake Michigan – $235,471
Donegal – $402,471		National Capital – $229,173
Cascades – $398,856		Central Florida – $224,139
Philadelphia – $394,079		Detroit – $223,582
Carlisle – $283,810		New Castle – $213, 654
The Top Ten for basic mission support by average per member are:
Carlisle – $19.38 per member		Cascades – $15.88 per member
Donegal – $19.10 per member		West Virginia – $15.51 per member
Santa Fe – $19.09 per member		Eastern Oregon – $15.48 per member
New Castle – $18.76 per member		Wyoming – $15.34 per member
Western Reserve – $16.33 per member		Southeastern Illinois – $15.26 per member
The Top Ten honored for special offerings by total dollar amount are:
National Capital – $473,391		New Covenant – $237,112
Philadelphia – 328,124		Donegal – $222,973
Grace – $325,714		Grand Canyon – $219,983
Chicago – $307,223		Detroit – $207,960
Cascades – $294,218		San Francisco – $190,035
The Top Ten honored for special offerings by average per member are:
Alaska – $28.27 per member		Yukon – $14.00 per member
North Puget Sound – $17.61 per member		National Capital – $13.91 per member
Western Colorado – $17.60 per member		Santa Fe – $13.83 per member
Sierra Blanca – $16.39 per member		New Castle – $13.72 per member
Grand Canyon – $14.06 per member		Southeastern Illinois – $12.07 per member
The Top Ten honored for donations to special appeals by total dollar amount are:
National Capital – $295,207		Charlotte – $204,493
New York City – $266,316		Whitewater Valley – $203,002
Philadelphia – 245,887		Mission – $195,018
Grace – $231,988		Pittsburgh – $188,772
Los Ranchos – $218,519		Coastal Carolina – $179,405
Finally, the Top Ten for donations to special appeals by average per member are:
New York City – $15.67 per member		Los Ranchos – $10.78 per member
Cimarron – $15.25 per member		Abingdon – $10.29 per member
Western Colorado – $13.34 per member		Palo Duro – $10.23 per member
Sheppards & Lapsley – $12.58 per member		San Gabriel – $10.18 per member
Sacramento – $10.97 per member		Alaska – $9.90 per member

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) comprises 2.2 million members in more than 10,000 congregations, answering Christ’s call to mission and ministry throughout the United States and the world. See more information at the PC(USA) Web site.