ST. LOUIS -- A drop in revenue is expected to force deep cuts in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's World Mission's operations worldwide before 2003.
Between $2 million and $3 million needs to be trimmed from the mission board's $29 million budget due to a $1.6 million shortfall in income during the first quarter of the fiscal year that began July 1. The denomination's national budget saw a revenue shortfall of nearly $3.1 million, according to a news release.
"There's no way we can have reductions like this without substantial reductions in personnel, both at the International Center and in our missionary force around the world," said Daniel Mattson, World Mission's associate executive director.
The denomination is blaming the drop in funding on a poor economy and controversy within the Synod that has distracted people from the church body's mission focus, according to the release. The controversy was not explained.
World Mission supports work in 68 countries, either directly through its missionary force or through partner churches. More than 400 people work for the Synod's mission force, including 177 career missionaries.
