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2005 Budget Approved; Abortion Amendment Passes

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (June 23, 2004) - Delegates approved a proposed Covenant Coordinated Budget of $12,898,426 for 2005 - an increase of about $470,000 from the 2004 revised budget - during the Tuesday afternoon business session of the 119th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC).

Vice President for Finance/Treasurer Dean Lundgren, in presenting his report, noted that a total of $8,885,000 will be sought from local Covenant congregations. The breakdown of budget allocations is as follows:

• World Mission: $4,864,864
• Church Growth and Evangelism: $2,990,000
• Christian Formation: $856,038
• Department of the Ordered Ministry: $541,612
• Communication: $515,855
• North Park University (including Seminary: $1,085,280
• General Administration: $2,044,777

Compared to the revised 2004 budget totals, World Mission's funding will increase about $157,000, Church Growth and Evangelism increases $104,000, Christian Formation increases $41,000, Ordered Ministry increases $15,000 and Communication increases by $32,000. Last year's revised 2004 Covenant coordinated budget was $12,428,387 (the original proposed 2004 budget was $12,623,213).

Later in the afternoon, a proposed amendment to a 1994 Resolution on Abortion was approved by delegates – 308 for and 198 against – following nearly 30 minutes of discussion. The approved amendment eliminated the words "or in cases of rape or incest" from the 1994 resolution.

In other news:

• Delegates opened the afternoon business session by approving the appointment of Todd Johnson as a professor at North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS). Johnson, who is from North Park Covenant Church in Chicago, has specialized in Liturgical Theology during his educational career and has taught worship and theology at the school. A graduate of both North Park University (then College) and NPTS, he earned his Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. He previously served as a professor at Loyola University in Chicago.
• ECC President Glenn R. Palmberg and Executive Minister of the Department of World Mission Curtis Peterson acknowledged the faithful service of Jerry and Nancy Reed both to Covenant World Mission ministries and to the work of NPTS. The Reeds have combined for 78 years in service to the Covenant. Though they are officially "retired," they are headed to Spain to serve as short-term missionaries for the ECC. (See related story elsewhere in the special online Annual Meeting news coverage).
• President David G. Horner gave a report on North Park University.
• Delegates approved extending the Commission on Church Music and Worship and the Commission on Christian Action for additional five-year periods.
• A Resolution on Kingdom Values and Global Citizenship was approved by delegates in response to the Christian Action Commission's stated goal "to intensify our focus on the international dimension of being God's people."
• A resolution advocating denominational and regional conference leadership slots for those 35 years of age and under was passed by delegates. The resolution calls for nominating boards to seriously consider younger Christian leaders for leadership roles and consider holding at least one ECC Executive Board slot for someone of that age. Because it is a resolution, it is non-binding and does not require constitutional change.
• The results of voting for positions on the ECC's Executive Board and other positions at conference, university and ministry levels were announced. The names of those elected are posted elsewhere in the special online Covenant news coverage.
• Art Greco, director of Evangelism and Prayer for the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism, gave a report about "The Feast" being held next summer in Keystone, Colorado, and delegates viewed a short video promoting the event. The 2005 edition of The Feast (the third such event held by the Covenant) will be held June 19-21 at the Keystone Resort. The 120th Annual Meeting of the ECC will be held June 22-24 at the same location.
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