The economic effects of shelter-in-place orders around the country due to the coronavirus pandemic has impacted Per Member Asking (PMA) contributions to the EPC. As of April 30, PMA received by the Office of the General Assembly during fiscal year 2020 (FY20) total $2,024,614. April PMA receipts were $162,333—26 percent below the April budget projection of $219,369.

Despite the downturn, the amount received in the first eight months of the EPC’s fiscal year is $12,509 more than the $2,012,105 received during the same period in fiscal year 2019. The fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30.

“With the ongoing economic uncertainty and job losses of the past two months, plus the fact that most—if not all—of our 630 churches had to stop holding public worship services, we all expected a drop in giving in our churches and to the EPC,” said Stated Clerk Jeff Jeremiah. “I am very grateful for our churches’ continued support of PMA in such uncertain times, and that the April decrease in PMA support was not as great as we had anticipated. On the expense side, in late March we began to restrict expenditures as much as reasonably possible. As a result, as of April 30 our operating expenses for the year are 9.7 percent below budget.”

Of the $2,024,614 received, $404,923 (20 percent) was allocated to EPC World Outreach.

In addition to PMA contributions, the Office of the General Assembly received $530,038 in designated gifts in April, bring the fiscal YTD total to $5,167,450. The amount is $568,973 (12.4 percent) higher than the $4,598,476 in designated gifts received in the same period in fiscal year 2019. Designated gifts include support for World Outreach global workers and projects, and contributions to EPC Special Projects such as Emergency Relief, church planting and revitalization initiatives, and the EPC’s holiday offerings.

Among the designated gifts was a $100,000 donation to a World Outreach project from a foundation grant.

“These gifts to specific ministries are a very clear illustration of how generous the members of EPC churches are,” Jeremiah noted. “While PMA support comes largely from our churches, these designated gifts mostly come from individuals.”

Of the YTD total, $4,424,295 was designated for World Outreach workers and projects, and $743,155 was designated for EPC projects. These amounts only reflect gifts received and distributed by the Office of the General Assembly, and do not reflect donations given directly to WO global workers or other projects.