Presbytery
of Lake Erie
This term has a variety of
meanings within the Presbytery of Lake Erie and, indeed, within our
denomination. At the most general level all of the activities of the Presbytery
are a form of mission. The “mission design” of this Presbytery, for example,
refers to its specific purpose and structure. Each of the 173 presbyteries of
the PC(USA) is organized and staffed a bit differently to reflect local needs
and preferences.
At a more specific level,
“mission” refers to the programs of the Presbytery (e.g. committee-sponsored
workshops on evangelism or Christian education, assistance with calling a new
pastor, financial help to congregations, or resources for mission
interpretation). This form of “mission” is distinguished from
“administration” (e.g. office rent, staff salaries, phone bills) in our
budget.
Finally, “mission” in its
most familiar sense refers to several direct mission projects funded by the
Presbytery where we reach out to our neighbors to feed the hungry, minister to
those in need, and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Examples would be the variety of service and counseling
ministries under the rubric of “Outward Mission” (see #8 below) and our
Presbytery’s emerging partnership with the Presbyterian Church of Venezuela
(see #9 below).
2.
How large is the overall Presbytery budget?
The Presbytery budget for 2001
included expenditures of slightly over $400,000.
In addition, the budget included per capita and mission funds that are
passed through to Synod and General Assembly amounting the another $265,000, for
a total of nearly $675,000. The
Presbytery expenditures are split approximately 50% for administration and 50%
for mission activities. Please refer to the “FAQ Budget Diagram”
accompanying this document for a more detailed picture of the budget.
3.
Who make decisions on the Presbytery budget?
The decision making process is
similar to the one followed in many local congregations. It starts in the
various committees that decide upon the programs and activities that they plan
to do. The staff accumulates the
requests of the committees and organizations and presents them to the Budget
Committee of the General Council for review, discussion, and recommendations.
Council then reviews the Budget Committee’s recommendations and forwards the
budget to Presbytery for final approval by the pastors and elder commissioners
at a stated meeting. In the past,
there have been special meetings for the purpose of formulating and agreeing
upon priorities among the various activities of the Presbytery.
4.
Does the Presbytery have an endowment?
Not exactly.
By the formal definition of “endowment” the answer is no. Less than
$10,000 of the Presbytery’s assets has been donor restricted as to use.
On the other hand, the Presbytery has accumulated annual surpluses over
the years and has been able to invest approximately $450,000, the income from
which has been about $20,000 per year. This
is, in essence, an unrestricted “endowment” used to offset administrative
expenses and, therefore, keep the per capita assessments lower than they would
be otherwise. This investment fund is managed by the Presbytery Trustees
5.
What is “per capita” and how is it determined?
According to the Book of Order
(G-9.0404) governing bodies may apportion their operating expenses among the
churches within their bounds. The assessments are referred to as “per
capita” (i.e. per member) funds since congregations are assessed on the basis
of the number of active members listed on their rolls. Each level beyond the
session --- Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly --- determines its own
respective portion of the overall per capita rate. For example, in fiscal year
2001 the per capita rate was $20.26 for the Presbytery of Lake Erie. Of this
overall total, $13.03 was for Presbytery, $2.25 was for the Synod of the
Trinity, and $4.98 was for the General Assembly.
In Lake Erie, we consider administrative expenses to include all costs other
than direct program activities and grants to organizations providing program
activities. Some of these
administrative expenses are apportioned to mission activities to recognize the
indirect support that staff and office functions provide to mission.
The net cost of administration, after apportionment and after reduction
for investment income, is divided by the number of active members in the
Presbytery at the most recent year-end to determine the per capita assessment.
6.
What is a congregational “mission pledge?”
Each year the Presbytery asks
congregations to make voluntary pledges to support the mission activities of the
higher governing bodies (i.e. the Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly.)
This is sometimes referred to as “unified mission” in that it
includes the mission efforts that benefit groups larger than the local
congregation, and is not restricted to a particular program. Each congregation
decides how much to pledge based on its own ability and willingness to give.
Specific information on your congregation’s recent pledge history is available
from the Presbytery Treasurer.
7.
May our congregation
designate its mission pledge?
Unified mission pledges to the Presbytery of Lake Erie are allocated among the
governing bodies with 52% remaining in the Presbytery, 16% going to the Synod of
the Trinity, and 32% being passed on to the General Assembly for their mission
programs. In most cases, these pledges are unrestricted. Each governing body
decides how best to use the resources to support mission at that level.
Each congregation may, however, choose to designate some (or all) of its mission
pledge. The General Assembly, for example, provides a lengthy list of specific
mission programs to which mission pledges may be directed. Although we operate
with a theology of stewardship that encourages unified giving, Lake Erie
Presbytery honors a congregation’s decision to designate its pledge.
8.
What is “Outward Mission?”
“Outward Mission” for the
Lake Erie Presbytery involves grants made to congregation-based projects or to
outside organizations that perform mission activities within our boundaries.
Examples include the I-90 Trucker/Traveler ministry, the campus
ministries at Edinboro and Penn State Behrend, and a number of others. In most
cases these are mission projects that extend beyond the work of one
congregation, often because of the project’s scope or the specialized nature
of the ministry. Requests for funding are received and reviewed by the Mission
& Stewardship Committee, which recommends the allocation of these funds. The
final decision is made by a vote of Presbytery. Information about funding
procedures is available from the Mission & Stewardship Committee. The
Outward Mission application deadline for 2002 was March 31, 2001.
9.
What is the Venezuela partnership?
The Presbytery of Lake Erie has
entered into a partnership agreement with the Central Presbytery of Venezuela.
The two presbyteries have exchanged visits, and Lake Erie has designated
funds to be sent in support of various projects in Venezuela.
We continue to explore possibilities for further cooperation. Individuals
or congregations who wish to become more involved in the Venezuela partnership
should contact Elder Christie Leininger at 814/728-9492 or Rev. Jim Haas at
814/833-7653.
10.
How can I have an influence on the Presbytery budget process?
There are several options. Express your interest to your pastor or to
the elder commissioners from your congregation. They represent your congregation
in the budget votes taken at the stated meetings of Presbytery. (If you are an
ordained elder, you may wish to serve as a commissioner from your church. Each
congregation has its own procedures for selecting elder commissioners.)
Volunteer to join a Presbytery committee and find out first hand about the
projects and programs supported by mission dollars. (And enjoy meeting other
Presbyterians from across this region!) For further information about mission,
stewardship, and budget issues in Lake Erie Presbytery contact Elder Bill
DeWitt, Presbytery Treasurer, at 814/833-3578 We welcome your questions
and will try to provide the answers or direct you to the appropriate person.