Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Friends:

Greetings in the name of the Risen Christ!

We write to you as former Moderators of the General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its predecessor churches, and as disciples of Jesus Christ who love the Gospel witness and the church, both here in the United States and around the world.

We are deeply concerned that there exists a critical funding crisis for continued support for mission co-workers. The office of World Mission reported to the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board on April 15, 2015, that a funding gap of $925,000 in 2016 will likely result in not replacing four retiring mission co-workers and prematurely ending the service of as many as five mission co-workers in 2016. Starting in 2017, the financial gap is $4.5 million, resulting in the recall of about 40 mission co-workers from the current 162 we have in service.  

The causes of this financial crisis are numerous and systemic. For the past several years, there has been a widespread view that weekly offerings alone support our mission co-workers. World Mission has had to rely upon Extra Commitment Opportunity funds and Direct Mission Support as Shared Mission Giving and accumulated gifts from prior years have decreased. While efforts have been made by the national communications office and funds development office to turn the tide, total actual receipts have not matched the need. With prior year’s gifts nearly depleted and limits on the draw upon the Presbyterian Mission Program Fund reserves, World Mission will have to rely solely upon each year’s annual receipts.

For the last 178 years, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church has engaged in international mission: planting churches, building hospitals, starting schools. We have all traveled to six continents, prayed with and served alongside our mission co-workers, women and men who answer God’s call for themselves and for their families to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and work faithfully with our global ecumenical partners for reconciliation and peace. It would be a tremendous loss for us as a church and for our partners to lose these mission co-workers.

We call upon you to join us in a time of fervent prayer and sacrificial giving. Pray for how you, your family, congregation, ministries, networks, and friends might give generously to meet this gap. Individuals and congregations interested in providing additional support for World Mission may use this link: http://bit.ly/supportwm or send a check to: Presbyterian World Mission, PO Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700. Checks should be made to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and noted for fund E132192, or simply write “Mission Worker Support” on your check. For more information, please contact Nicole Gerkins at nicole.gerkins@pcusa.org or 502-569-5611.

Beyond 2017, we believe long-term, durable strategies through churchwide conversations are needed. We call upon the Church at all levels, especially the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board, to immediately organize and convene a series of consultations to this end. Such consultations would seek to determine what level of mission co-workers are needed to address the three “Critical Global Initiatives” (poverty, evangelism, reconciliation) that World Mission and our ecumenical partners have jointly identified, the degree to which the church will sustain such a commitment, and identify creative means which harnesses all the gifts that God has stewarded to us toward supporting our mission co-workers. But more broadly, what is God calling us as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to be and to do in the years to come, as we face constrained capacities, multiple and, often times,  competing priorities. Time is of the essence, but we live in hope.

This new reality is difficult, but one which we believe calls for our collective prayer, action, and resolve. We are an Easter people, and just as with our Lord’s disciples after the resurrection, there was doubt, there was some fear, there was struggle as to what should be done next; but through it all, it was the power and presence of the Spirit of the risen Christ which gave them hope to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the outermost parts of the world (Acts 1:8).

Yours in the service of Christ,



The Rev. Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel, 214th General Assembly (2002), PC(USA)                

Elder Thelma C. Davidson Adair, 188th General Assembly (1976), UPCUSA

The Rev. Dr. Susan Andrews, 215th General Assembly (2003), PC(USA)

The Rev. Dr. Robert Bohl, 206th General Assembly (1994), PC(USA)

Elder Patricia G. Brown, 209th General Assembly (1997), PC(USA)

The Rev. John Buchanan, 208th General Assembly (1996), PC(USA)

Elder Marj Carpenter, 207th General Assembly (1995), PC(USA)

The Rev. David Dobler, 205th General Assembly (1993), PC(USA)

The Rev. John Fife, 204th General Assembly (1992), PC(USA)

Elder Freda A. Gardner, 211th General Assembly (1999), PC(USA)

Elder Price Gwynn III, 202nd General Assembly (1990), PC(USA)

The Rev. Charles A. Hammond, 192nd General Assembly (1980), UPCUSA

The Rev. Robert C. Lamar, 186th General Assembly (1974), UPCUSA

Rev. Harriet Nelson, 196th General Assembly (1984), PC(USA)

The Rev. Douglas W. Oldenburg, 210th General Assembly (1998), PC(USA)

The Rev. Dr. Neal D. Presa, 220th General Assembly (2012), PC(USA)

The Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, 218th General Assembly (2008), PC(USA)

The Rev. Dr. Jack Rogers, 213th General Assembly (2001), PC(USA)

Elder Rick Ufford-Chase, 216th General Assembly (2004), PC(USA)

The Rev. Dr. Herbert D. Valentine, 203rd General Assembly (1991), PC(USA)

The Rev. Benjamin Weir, 198th General Assembly (1986), PC(USA)

Elder William Wilson, 197th General Assembly (1985), PC(USA)

Doug and Elaine Baker, Mission Co-workers, Northern Ireland

The Rev. William Samford, First Presbyterian Church, Hawley, PA

Elizabeth Little, First Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC

Heath K. Rada, Current Moderator, 221st General Assembly PC(USA)

Marsha Anson, Polson, MT

Bryce Wiebe, First Presbyterian Church, New Haven, Connecticut

Michael Vinson, First Pres., Conway, AR

Cinda Warner Gorman, Cincinnati Presbytery, Ohio

Nancy Lister-Settle, Hunger Action Enabler, Presbytery of Des Moines, IA

Rachel Yates, Presbyterian Mission Agency, Denver, CO

Greg Allen-Pickett, Highland Pres., Louisville, KY

Rene Myers, New Beginnings Church, Fontana, CA

Sy Hughes, Lexington Pres., Lexington, VA

Blake A. Collins, First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, Columbia, MD

Catherine Hare, Amesville, Ohio

Jan Heckler, Mission Co-Worker, Madagascar, North Decatur PC, Decatur, GA

Rev. Matthew Randolph, Cross Roads Pres., Mebane, NC

Shannan Vance-Ocampo, Transitional Presbyter, Albany Presbytery & Director of Colombia Programs, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

The Rev. Mary Jane Winter, New Hanover Presbyterian Church, Mechanicsville, VA

Bradley Lewis, First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC

Carol Smith, First Presbyterian, Fond du Lac, WI

Taryn Mattice, Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell University

Pam Schubert, University Presbyterian Church, Seattle, WA

Jed and Jenny Koball, Mission Co-Workers, Peru

Freda A Reynolds, New Horizon Presbyterian, Odessa, Missouri

Mark Merrill, First Presbyterian, Macomb, IL

Connie E. Cochran, Paxton Presbyterian, Harrisburg, PA

Becky Johnson, Bardstown Road Presbyterian, Louisville, KY

Terry Dykstra, Mission Advocate, New Castle Presbytery, Delaware

Hunter Farrell, Grace Presbytery, Irving, Texas

Hugh & Teena Anderson, mission volunteers, Inner Mongolia, China

Lawrence and Barbara Moir, Former Mission Co-Workers, Dembi Dollo Ethiopia, Presbytery of Donegal, Lancaster, PA

Sue Ellen Hall, former mission worker in China, Indonesia and Sudan, First Presbyterian Church, Texarkana, AR

Julienne D. Hall, First Presbyterian, Texarkana, AR

Nancylee H. Hadley, First Presbyterian, Grapevine, TX

Rev. Keith E. Edwards, at large, Santa Barbara Presbytery

Rob Vaughan, Westminster Presbyterian, Charlottesville, Virginia

Barbara Nagy, Mission Co-worker, Malawi

Gail Heimbuck, United Presbyterian Church, Guernsey, WY

Charles Johnson, Northwood Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, Texas

Cindy Corell, Mission co-worker, Haiti

Martha Edington, Farragut Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, TN

Gordon Dosher, Plymouth, Plymouth, MN

Debbie Chase, Former Mission Co-worker, Malawi, Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery

Audra Grace, North Decatur Presbyterian Church, Decatur GA

Paul Foster, Grace Covenant, Virginia Beach, VA

Rick & Carol Delaney, Broad Street Presbyterian Church, Columbus, OH

Kathy Vineyard, Duncan, OK

Nicole Gerkins, Louisville, KY

Sharon Curry, Hurst, Texas

Edward H. Riedesel, Good Shepherd, Melbourne, FL

Bryan McFarland, Salem Presbytery, Clemmons, NC

Tammy Warren, Louisville, KY

Bernard Adeney-Risakotta, Berkeley, CA

Jeanette Zinke, First Presbyterian Church, Santa Barbara, CA

Mary Knecht, First Presbyterian, Wichita, KS

David & Patty Alexander, Broad Street Presbyterian, Columbus Ohio

Kate Taber, Mission Co-worker, Israel-Palestine

Irma and Salvador de la Torre, Retired mission co-workers, Yajalon, Chiapas, MEXICO

Rob & Vickana Norton, Bunker Hill Presbyterian Church, WV

Nathan Rolofson, Avery Presbyterian Church, Bellevue, NE

Heidi and Elie Saikaly, Mukilteo PC, Mukilteo, WA

Rev. Shirley R. Funk, HR, Bainbridge Island, WA

Manley & Ann Olson, Westminster PC, Minneapolis, MN

Bobbi White, Presbytery of Western North Carolina

Colleen Shannon, First PC, Knoxville, TN

Rev. April Cranford, Tinkling Spring, Presbyterian Church, Fishersville, Virginia

Sara Otoum, Louisville, KY

David and Kay Jordan, First Presbyterian,  Dallas, TX

Terry Dykstra, Mission Advocate, First & Central Pres. Ch, Wilmington, DE

Mona Bomgaars, M.D., Retired Mission Co-worker, Honolulu HI

Don Dawson, World Mission Initiative and New Wilmington Mission Conference, PA

Kris McNally, Director of Missions, Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, Severna Park, Maryland

Stephanie Caudill, Louisville, KY

Bob Rice, Mission Co-worker, Congo

Linda Russell, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Auburn, NY

Dan and Elizabeth Turk, Mission co-workers, Madagascar, Decatur Presbyterian Church, Decatur, GA

Bill Lowrey, former mission co-worker, Sudan, Haymarket, VA

Chris Roseland, Ohio Valley Presbytery

Pam Jensen, Barrington, IL

Rev. Chris Roseland, Lexington, KY

Joan and David Dawson, New Wilmington, PA

Rev. Miriam Foltz, UKirk - St. Louis

Dorothy and Gordon Gartrell, Columbia, Decatur, GA

Randy Simpson, Lake Square Presbyterian, Leesburg, FL

Anne Barstow, First Church, Cranbury, NJ

David Gordon Gartrell, Presbytery of Western  KY

Rev. Debbie Blane, Cascades Presbytery, OR

Mary Alice Kemp, North Decatur Presbyterian, Decatur, GA

Michelle Y. Lori, Presbyterian World Mission, Louisville, KY

Rev. Jim Layman, Black Mountain Presbyterian, Black Mountain, NC

Kay Layman, Montreat Presbyterian, Montreat, NC

Judith C. Evans, Boise, ID

Kevin Bowers, First Presbyterian, Milford, DE

Sarang Kang, First Presbyterian Church, Texarkana, AR

Elena Delgado, Presbytery of Western NY

Barbara Swan,  Sewickley Presbyterian Church, Sewickley, PA

Douglas Tilton, Covenant Presbyterian, Kansas City, MO

Katherine Pearson, First Presbyterian, Galena, IL

Donald Marsden, Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship, Richmond, VA

Mona Lee, Historic Franklin Presbyterian, Franklin, TN

Neville Carmical, First Presbyterian Church, New York , NY

Ken White, Southminster, Pittsburgh, PA

Len & Judy Bjorkman, First Presbyterian Union Church, Owego, NY

Rebecca Blackwell, Cherokee Presbytery, Cartersville, GA

Rev Bill Coop, MidCoast Presbyterian, Topsham, Maine

Cody Watson, former Mission co-worker, Bangladesh, PFF, Presbytery of Sheppards & Lapsley, Birmingham, AL

Janette S. Scott, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA

Irene Camp, Mountain Shadows Presbyterian Church, Tucson, AZ

Phyllis Zoon, Plumsted, New Egypt, NJ

Angene Eilson, Second Presbyterian, Lexington, KY

Angene Wilson, Second Presbyterian, Lexington, KY

Rev. Marilyn Gamm, Chair, Presbyterian Mission Agency Board

Edward D. Gehres, Jr., Honorably Retired Teaching Elder

Ann Broom, former missionary to Taiwan, Mauldin, SC
 
Edrine Ddungu, Mission Support Moderator, Presbytery Sacramento, CA

Rev. John Hage, Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian, Mt. Pleasant, SC

Trish Snead, Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian, Mt. Pleasant, SC

Jean White, 1st Presbyterian, Ann Arbor, MI

Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk Emeritus and former Director of World Mission, Louisville, KY

Crystal Parker, Glen Allen, VA

Patsy Chaney HR, Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, AL

Lori Dunham & Connie R. MacDonald, Slippery Rock PC & Calvin PC, Ellwood City, PA

Rev. Sean Brubaker, Calvin Presbyterian, Ellwood City, PA

Eileen Ferguson, First Presbyterian Church, Hemet, CA

The Rev. Dr. Darren Kennedy, Cairo, Egypt

Elder Bonnie Senger Karberg, First Presbyterian Church, Laramie, WY

Rachel Lausch & Dave Winters, Former Mission Co-Workers, Guatemala; Shawnee, KS

Bob Schminkey, Stated Clerk, New Castle Presbytery

Rev. Dr. James Moiso, Portland, Oregon

Susan Davenport, Simi Valley, CA

Kathleen Matsushima, Williamsburg, VA

Rev. Elizabeth Deibert, Peace Presbyterian, Lakewood Ranch, FL

Rev. Beverly Brewster, Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian, San Anselmo, CA

Chenoa Stock, East Liberty Presbyterian Church, PIttsburgh, PA

Annette & William Washburn, Former Mission Co-Workers, Congo: Bland VA, Presbyterian Church, Wytheville, VA

Rev. Richard Hill, Atlanta, GA

Ahren Stock, Forest Hill Church Presbyterian, Cleveland, OH

Hope and Frank Arnold, former mission co-workers, Brazil  

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