Two of the major fiscal challenges to our Zion are the continuation of ineffective/underfunded programs which we are not committed to making sustainable AND the funding of entities/programs that can sustain themselves.  We will leave the former for another time.  The latter is the basis for most of the reductions in the Proposed Austerity Budget.

Most components, and a few programs, can sustain themselves.  In the 1950’s the General Conference granted the WMS President a stipend/salary equal to that of a general officer.  Let us not digress on all the reasons for this.  The long-term result, though, is that constituent bodies claimed a place in the budget.  In some instances, the allocation far exceeded the cost of basic administration. Clearly, our two major constituent bodies have the means to sustain themselves.  Five or ten dollars (USD) per year per member would fund the connectional bodies beyond what the General Budget now supplies.

Similarly, thirty new student tuitions would replace what the connectional church gives to colleges in the United States. Before the centralized budget, colleges were supported (and sometimes closed) based on the ability of conferences/districts to sustain them.  Reliance on the general budget has done little for the schools while burdening a budget which is now more difficult to support.  PLUS, the central funding has NOT reduced the appeals/efforts in annual conferences/districts.  Same folk are paying twice, usually without thinking about it.

Moreover, pricing periodicals to meet budgetary requirements would reveal just how important they are and needed format adjustments.  Voluntary patronage would determine what we want/need and what is proud fluff.  A free market would work wonders in the development of our programs. 

AMEs are kind and generous!  They will give, voluntarily, to SADA, Missions, schools, and periodicals if they trust the program and the administration.  Reliance on mandatory support through the general budget has made us ineffective and suspect. 

Look at the constituent bodies without a major infusion of general budget money!  WIM, Sons of Allen, RAYC, and MCAM make it with mere seed money.  People support and pay for what they want.  Forced contributions through a centralized budget may have had merit in 1956.  It is not a good fit for 2024.

The Summary:  Those entities which can support themselves through constituent contributions should be forced to do so.  Benevolent causes can prove themselves and attract significant support.  Decentralize so good folk can give willingly with love, not out of necessity.  God loves the cheerful giver! This is one of the dreaded outcomes of Zero Based Budgeting…and why the effort always stalls!