Bishop Huber stressed the preliminary nature of the results for the year 2000. According to these provisional results, total income amounted to CHF 24,853,000, against total expenditure of CHF 25,604,000. "The Finance Committee noted that the total expenditure was remarkably close to the original budget," Huber said.

The Finance Committee is budgeting for a deficit of CHF 1,500,000 for the year 2001. At the same time, the Committee pointed out that the general reserves will be in the region of CHF 4.7 million at the beginning of 2001. "Whilst to accept a deficit in the budget for 2001 of CHF 1,500,000 is a courageous act, it seems, in the long term view, that the situation is tenable," the Finance Committee insisted. "The World Council of Churches being a community of hope with some good years behind the organization, it is valid to hope for improved revenues in the future, partly from new sources." Nevertheless, two or three difficult years were to be expected

Among the economy measures proposed, the Finance Committee recommended that the Central Committee should continue to meet at 18-month intervals. The meeting in the year 2004 could then be dropped.

The Central Committee also accepted a comprehensive package of measures for income development aimed at stabilizing designated income, increasing membership contributions and undesignated income and opening up new sources of income from trusts and planned giving. Measures mentioned by the Finance Committee included the campaign to increase membership contributions, already under way, stabilizing designated income, identifying new sources of income and raising the profile of the WCC through clear programme objectives.

Photos from the Central Committee