FOURSQUARE: The Los Angeles-based denomination founded by...

FOURSQUARE: The Los Angeles-based denomination founded by colorful preacher-pastor Aimee Semple McPherson in the 1920s continues to grow in members and churches, although the recession has caused the church body to pull back on some ambitious overseas projects.

In a report to the annual convention of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel this week at Church on the Way, in Van Nuys, President John Holland said the church had grown by the end of 1991 to 1.68 million members at 25,577 churches and meeting sites around the world. Donations for mission work totaled $4.3 million last year, but expenditures at one point were about $500,000 over income, Holland reported.

“Because of an economic downturn here in the United States, it was necessary for to us to notify our missionaries and national leaders that some of their forecasted projects would be delayed,” Holland said.

A special appeal in December erased 90% of the deficit, but denominational leaders set the mission budget for 1992 at a more conservative $4.1 million.

Much of the Pentecostalist church’s growth abroad has been in Brazil, where 383 new congregations formed last year helped to bring membership in that country to 787,500--nearly half of the denomination’s global total.

U.S. membership increased 2.2% over the previous year to 205,959 in 1,516 churches. Those totals are comparable with other relatively small, conservative denominations. But some individual Foursquare congregations are booming, notably the host church in Van Nuys with upward of 9,000 members pastored by the Rev. Jack Hayford.

The closing service for the five-day convention at 6 p.m. Sunday will feature a sermon by Holland.

The founding president--known to her huge Angelus Temple congregation, local press and a national radio audience as Sister Aimee--survived allegations in 1926 that she concocted a kidnaping story to cover a love tryst. She became a leader in church efforts to help Los Angeles through the Depression. At her death in 1944, she was succeeded as president by her son, Rolf McPherson. He retired in 1988 and Holland took his place.

ECUMENICAL: Local representatives of six denominations in the Church of Christ Uniting (COCU), a once-ambitious nationwide movement toward merger that now aims modestly at mutual recognition and local coordination, will hold a one-day conference for the San Fernando Valley Tuesday in Canoga Park.

COCU leaders have emphasized that mutual recognition of other churches’ baptisms, ministers and communion rites--goals not yet realized at the national level--needs to draw enthusiasm from congregations to be meaningful.

Of the nine COCU participants, six have churches in the Valley: African Methodist Episcopal Church, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church.

Ironically, though Lutherans are not a part of COCU, the meeting is being held at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 7769 Topanga Canyon Blvd., and chaired by its pastor, the Rev. Charles Bunnell.

The Valley Interfaith Council, which was asked to sponsor the 10 a.m.-to-4 p.m. meeting, is handling reservations for clergy and laity interested in registering. For more information, call (818) 718-6460.

MEALS: A volunteer project was begun this week to deliver midday meals to San Fernando Valley residents who are homebound and have tested positive for the AIDS virus or who have the disease.

The Rev. Sherre Boothman, pastor of Metropolitan Community Church in the Valley, said her church in North Hollywood will serve as the distribution point for meals prepared by the Center for Living in West Hollywood.

Called Project Angel Food, the program drew 20 people to a kickoff luncheon earlier this week.

SENIORS: The San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council has announced that its 17th senior nutrition site in the Valley has opened with noon meals being served at the Sun Valley Recreation Center, 8133 Vineland Ave.

The hot meals are for people at least 60 years of age. The suggested donation is $1.25.

News and announcements for this column can be sent to Religion desk, L.A. Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311.