RELIGION : Church of God to Cut 175 Jobs
The Worldwide Church of God, which announced in January it would close the venerable Ambassador Auditorium to slash costs, will also eliminate 175 to 180 of the 708 jobs at its Pasadena headquarters.
Church officials last week said they would lay off more than 100 workers but did not have precise figures.
The church is grappling with a financial crisis because of a 30% drop in revenue this year after church officials relaxed tithing rules and said members are no longer required to contribute 10% of their salaries.
Church income was down to $132 million last year from a 1990 peak of $211 million. The church, founded in 1933 by a radio evangelist, has also been losing membership worldwide because of infighting. The church claims membership is 90,000, while outsiders peg it at 60,000.
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