Post by Paddy by Grace on Mar 3, 2009 12:06:40 GMT -7
www.onenewsnow.com/Church/Default.aspx?id=429978
Economy issues spawn ministry layoffs
Associated Press - 2/28/2009 4:10:00 AM
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is laying off 55 employees, or about 10 percent of its staff.
The Charlotte Observer reports that Ken Barun, the ministry's spokesman, said that in the current economy BGEA needs to be sure it is tightening its belt as much as it can. Barun said the layoffs and other cost-cutting should slice the annual budget by about 15 percent, reducing it to $84 million.
Barun said contributions have been "relatively flat," and the Association has seen a downturn in revenues from sales of products such as books and returns on endowment funds.
A few of the 55 positions being eliminated are based at The Cove, the Billy Graham Training Center in Montreat, NC. But most of the positions are based in Charlotte.
Meanwhile, the economic downturn and smaller collections at Sunday masses have prompted Phoenix's Roman Catholic Diocese to lay off 11 employees and convert two other positions into part-time jobs.
Among those let go were the assistant superintendent of Catholic schools and the director of a program for theological study and pastoral-ministry formation.
The Phoenix diocese also has scheduled three weeklong unpaid furloughs, frozen salaries, restricted travel, and imposed a hiring freeze.
Collections at Sunday masses are down three percent this year. The diocese fears that number will grow to 8 to 10 percent by year's end. Real-estate values have declined, and investments have lost money.
Economy issues spawn ministry layoffs
Associated Press - 2/28/2009 4:10:00 AM
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is laying off 55 employees, or about 10 percent of its staff.
The Charlotte Observer reports that Ken Barun, the ministry's spokesman, said that in the current economy BGEA needs to be sure it is tightening its belt as much as it can. Barun said the layoffs and other cost-cutting should slice the annual budget by about 15 percent, reducing it to $84 million.
Barun said contributions have been "relatively flat," and the Association has seen a downturn in revenues from sales of products such as books and returns on endowment funds.
A few of the 55 positions being eliminated are based at The Cove, the Billy Graham Training Center in Montreat, NC. But most of the positions are based in Charlotte.
Meanwhile, the economic downturn and smaller collections at Sunday masses have prompted Phoenix's Roman Catholic Diocese to lay off 11 employees and convert two other positions into part-time jobs.
Among those let go were the assistant superintendent of Catholic schools and the director of a program for theological study and pastoral-ministry formation.
The Phoenix diocese also has scheduled three weeklong unpaid furloughs, frozen salaries, restricted travel, and imposed a hiring freeze.
Collections at Sunday masses are down three percent this year. The diocese fears that number will grow to 8 to 10 percent by year's end. Real-estate values have declined, and investments have lost money.