Slimmer NCC trims its priorities and personnel

Finished with two years of “pruning and untangling” its operations, the National Council of Churches announced that it has cut 11 full-time positions while consolidating operations in Washington, D.C. It has set two social justice priorities for the immediate future. The reorganized NCC elected James E. Winkler to be its chief executive.

Peg Birk, in her final report as NCC transitional general secretary, said on November 25 that the heavily indebted, New York–based ecumenical organization, founded in 1950, had grown into three dozen commissions, committees and working groups.

The newly approved budget is based on “pledges received and revenue forecast for royalties” (such as for NRSV Bibles) and an “appropriate fee structure” for the 37 member denominations and communions. Most member bodies are relatively small.