UCG 2010 Financial Statements Show Income Drop

Ancient Laodicea

Today, I noticed that the United Church of God just published its audited financial statements for its fiscal year ending June 30, 2010 (they are in the November 2010 edition of UCG’s United News).

UCG showed a small income drop from US$24,735,699 to 23,870,107, which is a drop of about 3.5%. Considering the state of the USA economy, that is not as bad as it may have been. I have heard reports that UCG’s income is down more in the period since, but have not seen verifiable data to comment or post any specifics.

UCG is the largest of the COG groups that once had their origins in the old WCG. LCG is the second largest.

As many have asked me about how LCG differs from UCG, a comparison of how they spend their income, in my view, helps answer a lot of questions.

The groups have differing objectives and priorities (as well as prophetic and other doctrinal differences).

Brief Financial Comparison of US Income (Both Based on Audited Statements)

For its fiscal year ending 6/30/10, UCG claims a gross income of $23,870,107. It spent 5,368,289 (down from 5,649,925 the prior year) for ‘public proclamation’ (22.49%); it spent 4,992,351 (up from 4,223,249 the prior year) for managing its meetings and ‘home office’ (20.92%); and 13,420,477 (down from 14,072,730 the prior year) for the field ministry/local churches/FOT/International support (56.22%), and increased reserves by 88,990 (down from 789,795 the prior year) (0.37%). For its fiscal year ending 12/31/09, LCG grossed 13,589,128 and spent 6,107,774 on public proclamation, 876,628 on HQ administration, 6,408,459 to ‘feed the flock’ (including Living University) and increased reserves by 196,267.

In its prior fiscal year UCG spent $5,734,800 for ‘public proclamation’ and apparently decided to decrease that even though it indicated earlier that it had planned to increase that portion of the budget.

Based on the numbers in the financial reports of the two groups, if you gave $100.00 to the United Church of God or the Living Church of God, here is where your money went:

.......................................United Church of God....Living Church of God

1st Commission to Proclaim the Gospel to the World....$22.49........$44.95
2nd Commission to Feed the Flock (and Field Ministry)..56.22.........47.16
Headquarters/Home Office...............................20.92..........6.45
Change in Reserves......................................0.37..........1.44
Total................................................$100.00.......$100.00

Jesus taught:

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).

I went with LCG because of Gospel proclamation emphasis and biblical church governance. It is interesting that UCG spent over 3 times as high a percentage on governance/administration than LCG does (and over 5 times as much in actual cash, UCG spent $4,992,351 vs. LCG’s 876,628).

Which form of governance is more cost-effective? Which form places the higher priority on proclaiming the Gospel?

With not much more than half the income and membership, LCG spends more in actual cash as UCG does to proclaim the Gospel. LCG also reaches many times as many people over television than UCG does (and this is still true, despite the adding of superstation WGN by UCG recently). LCG also produces almost the same number of magazines as UCG (330,000 Tomorrow’s World vs. 350,000 Good News) does, despite being so much smaller.

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Some articles of related interest may include:

There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.
Differences between the Living Church of God and United Church of God This article provides quotes information from the two largest groups which had their origins in WCG as well as commentary.
Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had?
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now basically the Living Church of God.
The Laodicean Church Era was predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. Non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.