Free Church finances 1/2/12
By Bill Lucas
The Western Isles Presbytery of the Free Church of Scotland was informed
yesterday (Tuesday) at their meeting in Stornoway that they were the only presbytery
within the denomination that had met its obligations for basic remittances resulting
in a shortfall across the Free Church of £121,000 or 4.2 per cent.
The report stated that income per congregation had increased from the previous year
for most congregations and the remainder -
except for Stornoway with a drop of £31,000
-
There was also a shortfall of £132,000 or 44 per cent for the Missions Boards. Although the target for the Home Missions Board and the International Missions Board was £300,000 for the year, only £168,000 was remitted from congregations.
Of this £61,500 came from the Western Isles, £43,600 from Glasgow and Argyle, £24,400 from the Northern Presbytery, £18,200 from Edinburgh, £14,900 from Inverness and £5600 from Skye.
The report by Mr Neil M Graham concluded: 'Congregations within the Presbytery are,
in general, fulfilling commitments towards levies although contributions across the
Free Church to Mission Boards continue to give cause for concern.'