World Mission Discussion Punctuates Opening Session

KEYSTONE, CO (June 26, 2002) - A new budget for fiscal 2003 was approved by delegates to the 117th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), but not without considerable discussion about how the money will be spent.

Approval of the $12,471,700 budget came during the opening business session at the Keystone Convention Center. Of that amount, $8,494,000 will be sought from local Covenant churches.

The 2003 Coordinated Budget includes the following allocations:

• $4,772,300 for the Department of World Mission
• $2,830,000 for the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism
• $819,900 for the Department of Christian Formation
• $507,400 for the Department of the Ordered Ministry
• $497,700 for the Department of Communication
• $1,043,000 for North Park University
• $2,000,600 for General Administration

The approved budget reflected an amendment to provide an additional $500,000 to the Department of World Mission. The amendment was proposed by Pastor Ted Smith of First Covenant Church in Sacramento, California. A 55-minute discussion regarding the 2003 Coordinated Budget and the overall future direction of World Mission proceeded the vote.

"I look at the budget as a more safe budget than a faith budget," said Smith in advocating for more funding for World Mission. Smith also moved that a task force be organized to help raise the extra $500,000 (the motion passed).

The Department of World Mission's Executive Minister Jim Gustafson resigned May 10. Questions concerning World Mission and the abrupt resignation punctuated Wednesday's meeting. ECC President Glenn R. Palmberg addressed the matter in his oral report to delegates. Curt Peterson, chair of the ECC Executive Board, and Dean Lundgren, vice president of finance, also addressed future directions for World Mission during a question-and-answer session prior to passage of the 2003 budget.

Lundgren explained that part of the budget development process is developing a budget that is "financially sustainable." In discussing future World Mission financing, Lundgren observed that some World Mission projects started in recent years might not be financially sustainable due to limited funds. Some projects started during Gustafson's tenure relied on money from unrestricted funds that are now depleted, Lundgren noted.

Unrestricted funds disbursements from 1998 through 2001 increased dramatically, said Lundgren. Unrestricted funds primarily come from estates and bequests earmarked for World Mission. They were used to support the World Mission operating budget and to support other World Mission initiatives. Coordinated Budget operating expenditures during the same period increased 33 percent or $1.3 million.

There were $2.4 million in non-budget initiatives for World Mission above and beyond the operating budget, Lundgren explained. They included budgeting for a World Mission chair at North Park University and funds to support Covenant Bible College's new campus in Ecuador, among other items. Overall, for the period from 1998 to 2001, $5.1 million in unrestricted funds was available to the World Mission operating budget and new World Mission initiatives. Of that amount, only about $600,000 of those funds remains.

One delegate asked for an explanation of the long-term financial plan for World Mission at the time Gustafson was given the authorization to spend unrestricted funds. Lundgren said that he and Gustafson met often during the past two years to discuss possible scenarios for future projects in light of how quickly unrestricted funds were being spent.

A number of those who spoke to the issue reflected the desire that the Covenant Coordinated Budget reflect a willingness to "go on faith," trusting that God will provide funding for worthwhile projects.

Another area of concern for some is that the number of Covenant missionaries in the field is nearly identical to the number of missionaries serving 17 years ago. Palmberg pointed out that Covenant funding for World Mission has been used to support many worthwhile initiatives other than additional missionaries.

As he neared the end of his report, Palmberg praised the outstanding mission work of the Covenant throughout the world, lauding Gustafson's passion and efforts to extend the Covenant's ministry in mission.

"In affirming Jim's nomination for executive minister (for a second term), we affirmed a direction that was important for going forward in a responsible way for the future," said Peterson about Gustafson's resignation. "And President Palmberg was responsible for managing that - meeting with Jim. Jim felt he had gone as far as possible in mandating his call. He felt he could go no farther in mandating his gifts . . . it was not without the family tensions of accountability and responsibility in relating to the constitution and the financial responsibilities. And in the context of that, and in seeking to work that out, he chose to resign."

"I am very sorry that Jim Gustafson resigned from the position he held in this denomination," Palmberg said. "I strongly supported Jim's re-nomination to this denomination (in March) . . . and we as leaders are determined to continue what he started. I have love and great respect for Jim and Joan Gustafson. They changed the world and they changed the world in Northeast Thailand."

Peterson earlier addressed questions that have been posed to Palmberg and others during the past six weeks. He said a nominating committee will begin a search process this fall to identify an executive minister candidate to be voted on at next year's Annual Meeting. In the meantime, a search for an interim executive minister is under way.

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