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NewsDecember 15, 2001

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The recession and a brewing protest by conservative congregations are taking a financial toll on national offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which anticipates a $2.5 million shortfall in the 2002 budget. John Detterick, executive director of the General Assembly Council, told the Louisville headquarters staff there may be cuts in jobs and scheduled pay increases next year...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The recession and a brewing protest by conservative congregations are taking a financial toll on national offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which anticipates a $2.5 million shortfall in the 2002 budget.

John Detterick, executive director of the General Assembly Council, told the Louisville headquarters staff there may be cuts in jobs and scheduled pay increases next year.

Some conservative congregations plan to withhold funds from the denomination to protest what they consider liberal trends. Detterick said it's too early to tell how many will do so.

The separate Presbyterian Church Foundation in Jeffersonville, Ind., has cut about 20 staff positions through layoffs and attrition. Problems there were attributed entirely to stock market losses.

U.S. Jewish population shows increase

NEW YORK -- The nation's Jewish population reached 6,136,000 as of 2000, an increase of 75,000 over 1999, according to the new "American Jewish Year Book."

The number gains special interest with U.S. Muslims' claims that the number of adherents to Islam surpasses or equals that of Jews in this country.

The annual, a reference standard compiled by the American Jewish Committee, obtains population estimates from local Jewish groups.

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Surveying longer trends, the book said that in 1900, 52 percent of the 1.1 million U.S. Jews lived in the New York City area, but only 32 percent of today's total live there. Northeastern states accounted for 70 percent of Jews in 1920, but 46 percent currently.

The annual said that since 1995 Las Vegas has seen the largest Jewish increase among U.S. cities, up 35 percent to 75,000, followed by Seattle, up 27 percent to 37,200. The biggest drop, a loss of 10,000, occurred in the Miami area.

Indian Christians plan to take peace vow

GAUHATI, India -- Thousands of tribespeople plan to rally before Christmas to pledge peace and an end of "mistrust and misunderstanding" in Nagaland, India's predominantly Christian northeastern state.

The Dec. 20 rally in the state capital, Kohima, is intended to start reconciliation among Naga groups and also with India's government, said Charles Chasie, a spokesman for the Naga Hoho, the top decision-making body for 37 tribes and sub-tribes.

Influential Baptist churches, along with student and democratic rights groups, support the initiative.

A separatist campaign launched in the 1950s by the National Socialist Council has killed thousands in Nagaland. Violence increased after the council split in two in 1988.

The Indian government is negotiating peace with one of the factions.

--From wire reports

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