The Pacific Union Conference distributed far more money in 2004 than it spent, according to Leon Sanders, union treasurer. In his March 16 report at the executive committee, Sanders showed that the union received $30 million in 2004, mostly from tithe and mission offerings, and appropriated $22 million to conferences and educational institutions ($11 million each).

Of the remaining $8 million, $1.8 million went to the Adventist Retirement Fund, and $1 million paid for auditing the union’s institutions, mainly conferences and academies. $1.7 million went to administration, trust services and general expenses, and $3.9 million was spent on ministries, including internet evangelism and information, communication (including the Recorder), education, literature ministry and religious liberty.

When asked if the church might save about $5 million dollars by eliminating the Pacific Union, Tom Mostert, union president, responded, “Not at all. Everything currently done at the union office would be done elsewhere — it would just cost more, probably several million dollars more.”

But the members of the union committee knew this, so they approved the financial report without much discussion and went on to other business.

Evangelism

The committee approved appropriations totaling $234,000 from the Evangelism Endowment Fund for 13 special evangelism projects, ranging from $2,500 for a welcome wagon evangelism project, to $68,000 for a Hispanic recruiter for the literature evangelism summer program.

PlusLine

Perhaps the most surprising news of the meeting was that the North American Division has agreed to assume ownership of PlusLine.com, the online information service developed by the Pacific Union. The union will continue to pay all expenses ($15,000 per month) in 2005, will share the expenses 50/50 with the NAD in 2006, and will transfer all expenses to the NAD in 2007. There are no immediate plans to move the online consultants from the Pacific Union offices.

Memberships and Scholarships

In more routine business, the committee approved Christi Oberg, from the Southeastern California Conference, as a new member of the executive committee, replacing Tammy McGrew. They also approved Jaime Herars and Donal Smith, both from the Southern California Conference, to enter the Doctor of Ministry program. And they approved a ministerial scholarship for Tim Cress from the Northern California Conference.

Duplication Study

The Duplication Study Committee, established recently to identify possible areas of duplication in the Pacific Union, recommended that five specialized committees be set up to study the various areas of church and school management. The executive committee approved the following study committees: financial management, evaluation and accountability, education, tithe-based funding, and committee meeting expenses.

Loans and Grants

The Pacific Union Association gave a detailed report regarding $2.4 million in new capital improvement loans to churches and schools in the union, including loans to Azure Hills ($250,000), Corona ($500,000), Las Vegas Paradise ($910,000), Hayward ($15,500), Murrieta Springs ($996,909) and, in Chino, Calif., Portuguese Language ($468,875). No vote was necessary since all loans were within policy guidelines.

And, finally, the committee voted Capital Reversion grants (not loans) to ethnic minority churches and schools in the Union: Asian/Pacific ($41,000); black ($156,000); and Hispanic ($286,000).

The next Pacific Union Executive Committee meeting will be held June 8 at Pacific Union College.