Rising Cost Of Living Has Effect On Cost Of Church’s Work

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 November 1949, Page 4

Rising Cost Of Living Has Effect On Cost Of Church’s Work

TIMARU, Last Night (PA)—Church work has been affected by the rising cost of living in a similar manner to any normal business enterprise and the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand will call on its congregations to subscribe £ll,OOO more this year than last to meet the increasing costs of maintaining the existing work in particular. For missionary' purposes, congregations will be asked to contribute £71,585. In his report to the General Assembly of the church at Timaru yesterday, the general treasurer (Mr. L. B. Mushet) said that th e past year han been one of record giving by congregations. They contributed £60,960 to the missionary enterprise of the church, only £7B short of the budgeted objective total. Receipts from all sources amounted to £77,123, which was £1368 more than the estimated total requirements. “Because of the year’s over-expendi-ture, which has exceeded the estimate by £2865, there had been a deficit on the year’s working,” said Mr. Mushet. “This is not due to any slump in congregation returns, but "to expenditure, which was unavoidable.” Presbyterian congregations, he continued, actually increased their contributions in the last 12 months by £6692. The total receints for the year had exceeded 1948-49 by £4861.