MCC faces declining resources

WINNIPEG, MAN.

Although giving to Mennonite Central Committee has increased over the years, approximately keeping pace with inflation, the cash available to MCC overseas programs has decreased about 25% since 1989, in inflation adjusted dollars. According to MCC's finance office, this decline has occurred because of declining grant income from the Canadian International Development Agency and other sources; declining income from other sources; the decline of the Canadian dollar versus the US dollar; and increased fundraising costs.

Meanwhile, the number of countries (excluding Europe and the former Soviet Union) where MCC spends money has averaged 57 since 1989, compared to an average of 47 in the 10 years before. While the number of countries in which MCC works has grown, the average amount spent in each country has decreased significantly.

Of equal concern to many in MCC is the continuing decline in the number of workers in overseas assignments. In 1986 MCC had 510 people working overseas. This dropped to 379 in 1996.

"Applications so far this year are down 9%," reported MCC director of personnel Dwight McFadden at the June MCC Executive Committee meeting. However, placements are at about the level they were a year ago. Although MCC has not done an overall study of what's causing the decline in applications, it has worked at some aspects of the problem.

"Recruitment is a major concern," said McFadden. Some board members wondered if MCC should examine the kinds of programs it is involved in and come up with programs to challenge the constituency. "The reality is that in the past we were a placement agency," responded McFadden. "When people applied to serve with MCC, we found them a place to serve." Now, the overseas partners with whom MCC works ask for specific kinds of people, generally people with a higher level of education and more experience, McFadden said. "We now look for people to fill specific assignments."

The strain on financial and human resources has resulted in a "more spread-out stance", said Ray Brubacher, MCC's director of overseas programs. MCC workers are spread more thinly. MCC is also focussing more on helping local groups help themselves. "The work is just being done differently."

Over the years, MCC has also developed extensive connections with people overseas. This network of relationships enables MCC to connect people and help North American churches do mission and service with churches in other countries.

"Should MCC pursue this networking model or should it consolidate in order to have more impact in fewer countries?" Brubacher asked the members of the Executive Committee.

One problem with having larger programs in fewer countries is getting administrators who are willing to run the programs, said Brubacher. Times have changed, and demands on staff have increased. For leadership and technical positions, the pool is small, McFadden said. It took MCC four years, for example, to find a replacement for the last country representative position in Bolivia, a complex program with 25 international staff and 25 Bolivian staff.

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