S u n d b y b e r g – The global economic crises has affected the Swedish Baptist Union. Its press release from 4 November states that the Union has lost considerable funds due to to the crisis in the world financial markets. Internal developments have served to further burden the Union’s financial situation. European Baptist Press Service (EBPS) learned through additional questioning that the Union reckons with a budget shortfall of 800.000 euros. As a consequence, the number of staff will need to be reduced drastically. Eight staff members sharing of total of 6,4 full-time positions will be affected. General-Secretary Karin Wiborn reported that only roughly 10 staff members will remain active in Union headquarters in Sundbyberg near Stockholm after the measures are put into practice. Workers need to be made redundant in hopes of achieving a balanced budget. “Our main purpose is to serve our member churches and to co-ordinate our international mission and national church development work,” Wiborn stated. These goals can be achieved even with a reduced staff. The Baptist Union of Sweden consists of 17.000 members meeting in 222 congregations.