Citing a "great and growing disparity in the cost of missions in various areas of the world," the First Presidency has announced a new policy to equalize contributions required to maintain a missionary.
Effective Jan. 1, 1991, the amount required to cover the service-related expenses of a single missionary called from the United States or Canada will be $350 per month in U.S. dollars or $400 in Canadian, regardless of where the missionary serves.The First Presidency said the amount needed may be adjusted in the future as circumstances change, and the new policy will not apply to missionary couples.
The policy change was announced by the First Presidency in a letter to Church officers in the United States and Canada. The letter was to be read to members in sacrament meetings.
Missionaries from other countries will not be affected by the policy change, as these missionaries already have financial programs in place.
The new policy will affect some 31,000 U.S. and Canadian missionaries, who comprise 70 percent of the worldwide complement of 44,000 full-time missionaries currently serving in 256 missions.
"In recent months," the First Presidency wrote, "there has arisen a serious concern over the great and growing disparity in the cost of missions in various areas of the world, with some missions at present costing as little as $100 per month and others as much as $750, placing a highly disproportionate burden on some families and wards.
"After prayerful consideration and much study, we have determined to equalize the contributions required to maintain a missionary regardless of where he or she may serve."
In the letter, the First Presidency expressed "sincere appreciation to all who contribute generously in time and money to missionary service. This service, given in response to a divine commandment, has, from the earliest days of the Church, involved individual and family sacrifice.
"Such sacrifice, on the part of family and others, has been willingly made in the past and must continue to be the basis of our worldwide missionary program," stated the First Presidency.
Under the new policy, the letter continued, bishops will be responsible to see that funds are available to support missionaries from that ward.
"These funds will come, as in the past, from contributions which the missionary may make, contributions by parents, families and friends, contributions by ward members generally who will be urged to contribute to the Ward Missionary Fund as well as the General Missionary Fund.
"We ask that bishops be sensitive to the financial circumstances of those who presently are contributing less than $350 per month for the maintenance of a missionary, and who will be unable to increase their contributions. Other members of the ward may be urged to contribute to assist in these circumstances."
Funds from the ward missionary account will be drawn upon by the Church Finance Department, according to the number of missionaries representing that ward. The funds will be sent by the Church Finance Department to the respective mission presidents of the Church. Mission presidents will then distribute to their missionaries funds to cover individual service-related expenses.
"In all cases, the mission president retains complete discretion to use the money in accordance with his understanding of the needs of the mission," stated the First Presidency's letter.
The letter concluded, "We are mindful of the sacrifices of our people in furthering this divinely mandated work. As your brethren in this great cause we invoke the blessings of the Lord upon all who give generously of their time and substance in moving forward this sacred work for the benefit of the sons and daughters of God throughout the world."