ELCA to cut 65 staffers due to lowered giving

To adjust for lower contributions to the national church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Amer­ica has announced a new plan that will cut about 65 jobs of staff members.

ELCA employees directly affected by the approximately 18 percent in staff cuts at the Chicago headquarters and elsewhere were informed of the steps on October 11.

In announcing the reorganization plan, Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson said the action—to take effect in February—was precipitated by a significant drop in mission support income from congregations and synods. "In 2008 after adjusting for inflation, the value of mission support had declined by half since the founding of this church in 1988," he said.