2018 ELCA Financial Picture

The ELCA reports the following:

"In 2018, ELCA members gave $1.7 billion in unrestricted offerings to support God's mission and ministry through the three expressions of the ELCA. Thank you for your generosity!

94.5% - Congregations

$1.6 billion was stewarded by the ELCA's 9,100-plus congregations

3% - Synods

$52 million was stewarded by the ELCA's 65 synods.

2.5% - Churchwide Organization

$43 million was stewarded by the ELCA churchwide organization."

According to these statistics, the typical congregation forwards 5.5% of their offerings through the local synod. At the start of the ELCA in 1987, I remember the amount forwarded to be about 10%. Local congregations continue to forward less and less to the work of the larger church. Local expenses have gone up steadily and giving has not kept pace.

This year First Lutheran Church has budgeted $1700 for mission support through our synod.