The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE - The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) plans to lay off 30 people today and do away with 10 other vacant positions, reflecting a recently adopted mission and smaller gifts in the collection plate.

The cuts are the third round of job reductions in the last few years.

John Detterick, executive director of the Louisville-based church's General Assembly Council, would not identify specific cuts until people losing their jobs are notified.

The council's executive committee, scheduled to meet in Louisville on Friday and Saturday, will vote on whether to endorse the reductions. The church's General Assembly, its main legislative body, has final say on the cuts at its meeting in Richmond, Va., this summer.

Both bodies ratified earlier rounds of cuts recommended by staff. Those actions eliminated 85 positions.

This year's cuts are needed to close a projected $4.5 million gap between revenue and expenses in the church's $114 million budget for next year. The denomination also will be approving a $115 million budget for 2006, so Detterick said no layoffs are expected next year.