National Council of Churches reports end of financial woes

NEW YORK (AP) -- The National Council of Churches announced that, due in part to cutbacks in staff and programs, it has recovered from its financial problems following a decade of deficit spending.

Bob Edgar, the council's general secretary, said the organization ended its fiscal year June 30 with a balanced budget.

The Lilly Endowment of Indianapolis, Ind., also has given the group a $500,000 grant. Edgar said the foundation had previously expressed concern about giving money to the struggling religious organization.

The turnaround came after administrators reduced programs and the number of jobs at the council from 102 to 41 over the last couple of years, Edgar said. He said 32 of the 36 Protestant and Orthodox member denominations have now committed to paying their assessments, up from 23 out of 35 two years ago.