What is per capita?

In these days of diminishing resources and tight budgets, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) continues to seek new and innovative ways to provide ministry and support to mid councils (presbyteries and synods) across the country.

Presbyterians have used per capita—an annual per member apportionment assessed by the General Assembly (Book of Order, G-3.0106; see also Standing Rule F.4.b.), and by many synods and presbyteries, to enable Presbyterians mutually and equitably to share the ecclesiastical and administrative costs of sustaining our witness to Christ—as a sign of the covenant that binds us together.

General Assembly per capita is the primary source of funding for the Office of the General Assembly and makes possible numerous services on which Presbyterians depend, including the biennial meeting of the General Assembly.

In his monthly video conversation, the Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk for the PC(USA), discusses the importance of per capita and what it means to the larger church and Presbyterians in general.

Content Source: PC(USA) website.