Significant Oregon Conference budget cuts were announced in churches this past Sabbath. A video featuring Dan Linrud was played at the start of church services.
Here is a link to the official announcement which we are told is similar wording to the video.
The 2024 Oregon Conference Budget will include
1. Approximately a 20% decrease in the conference headquarters office personnel budget equivalence.
2. A 20% reduction of pastoral staff in the field, along with necessary district restructuring.
3. Providing additional severance packages for salaried office personnel and pastors voluntarily retiring or resigning by April 30.
4. Implementation of a general freeze on hiring of new personnel and freezing employee remuneration levels.
5. A 3% reduction in the conference's contribution to local school educator expenses.
6. Reduction of conference office operation costs while maintaining operational and missional needs.
In the article, Linrud states there will be a 20% reduction in office personnel and pastoral staff—roughly 25 pastors. The need for reduction is blamed on a rise in employee medical insurance costs and plummeting tithe as well as decreased in-person church attendance. Termination will be effective April 30.
In the past, liberal conferences have used staff reduction moves as an opportunity to prune more conservative pastors from the payroll. We don’t know what the outcome of this Oregon restructuring will be yet—we will report on it as more information becomes available.
Stay faithful!
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“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:31-34).
