“Our church is strongest when we share,” said Seventh-day Adventist world church treasurer Bob Lemon while delivering the 2006 Treasurer’s Report to Annual Council delegates gathered at world church headquarters this morning.

Lemon added that such a generous spirit is best evidenced when church members give liberally to world mission. His report indicated that, following several decades of stagnant world mission offerings, offering totals from the past fiscal year reveal considerable rallying.

In fact, reflecting a 4 percent increase over last year’s interim mission offering total and exceeding budget estimates by 2 percent, the August 31, 2006 year-to-date total for world missions offerings checks in at U.S. $32.7 million. This number reflects a 3 percent increase in giving outside of the church’s North American division, and a 5 percent increase in North America.

That 5 percent increase in the church’s North American region—a total of U.S.$13.7 million, up from last year’s U.S.$12.9 million—marks the first time in years that the percentage increase in mission giving in that region has exceeded the percentage increase in tithe, the report indicated.

“There has been tremendous support and involvement in missions and mission projects in recent years, but we are glad to see that there is also an increased understanding of the need to have funds to follow up these initiatives with the long-term support and nurture of those who have been reached,” Lemon stated.

Lemon attributed the U-turn in mission offering rates in large part to the work of the department of Adventist Mission in stressing the vital link between the offerings of church members and the work of the church.

In comments made after the news was released, Mike Ryan, a general vice president of the church, also praised the contribution of regional church leaders, asking them to continue to prioritize the “urgency and necessity” of mission offerings in their local congregations. “Inertia has moved in the right direction,” he said, “and we need to keep that momentum going.”

In addition to world mission offerings, the report also indicated tithe return rates continue to remain steady, after a nearly 12 percent increase in 2005 over 2004.  The year-to-date increase in tithe coming to the General Conference marks a 6 percent increase from last year’s total. Much of that growth comes from non-North American returns, which are up from last year by 17 percent. Church undertreasurer Steve Rose said he anticipates the trend will continue.

Also addressed during today’s report was the need for church administration to step up accountability and transparency regarding the use of tithes and offerings. If not, “[the church] will lose the trust of [its] members,” Lemon cautioned. While members shouldn’t liken giving offerings to choosing a candidate at the ballot box, nor should they feel they’re funneling money into what he dubbed a “black hole.”

“We are making a conscious effort to ensure each church member knows where their offerings go,” reiterated world church president Jan Paulsen.

In recent years, many church members have turned to special projects as a way of ensuring their money is used as they wish. That so many members favor such projects—which are often local in interest and impact—has generated concern among church leaders, who have determined mission offerings at large suffer when members resort exclusively to specialized giving. 

Lemon echoed this concern in today’s report. “Special projects are good, and we want to encourage them, but they are not always sustainable or comprehensive,” he said. “But the regular Sabbath School mission offering is foundational to the church’s mission outreach, and it focuses on projects that maintain and nurture new members, including those brought to the Lord by special projects and other initiatives. Bringing in 1,000 new people has no value if we don’t keep them,” he stressed.

During a question-and-answer period following the report, a delegate from the Norwegian Union addressed General Conference headquarters’ administrative expenses, asking specifically why the salaries of General Conference employees had increased.

In his answer, Lemon cited the “astronomical rate of inflation in housing costs” in the Washington, D.C. area, where church headquarters is located, as responsible. He then clarified that all church workers—including employees at church headquarters—are paid on a single salary structure that gets adjusted to reflect the cost of living in a worker’s local area.

Speaking in broader terms, Lemon said, “We have not added a single employee budget item or upgraded existing employee budgets with new funding for seven years. We are keeping General Conference operations as economic and financially responsible as possible.”

“Commissions are working to find the best and most efficient ways to accomplish the church’s mission,” he continued, “but we must maintain the functions necessary at the General Conference level to carry out the Gospel Commission.”

Also following the report, a delegate from the church’s Atlantic Union in North America urged church leaders to continue asking the “hard questions” being posed by local church members. “The money ultimately comes from the pews of our local churches,” he said. “Thus, local members need to know what the church is doing with their funds. They need to know that we’re not just placating them.”

“We share the same concern,” Pastor Paulsen replied. “As a church, we are making strides toward better communication between administration and members. In North America, that tithe and offerings are now stronger in proportion than the rate of church growth may reflect our constant focus on mission, but also [may reflect] better communication, stimulating members to be faithful,” he continued.

Following the Treasurer’s Report, the body of Annual Council delegates moved to accept the U.S. $132 million proposed world church budget for 2007. Of special interest, noted Rose, is the projected concentration of more resources and “more active and intentional attention to the 10/40 Window,” as the world church continues to bolster Tell the World efforts. Rose explained that the appropriation of more funds for outreach was directly dependent upon tithe and offerings increases this year.

“We are confident that as God’s people understand the importance of the mission offering in finishing the work of the church, especially in the vast unentered parts of the world, they will continue to respond,” said Lemon in concluding remarks. He then reminded delegates of a phrase Edwin Hernandez used in a recent morning devotional at church headquarters: “God has not blessed those who have the most, but those who share the most.”