But while the recession did cut into the denomination’s investment income, the recent cuts also come amid longer-standing struggles in the denomination.

Facing continued drops in membership and a shrinking budget, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is offering severance packages to about 30 employees at its Louisville headquarters — part of an effort to cut its budget by nearly one-fifth by 2012.

This impending round of cuts is just the latest in a series over the past decade as the denomination attempts to cope with losses in membership, congregations and, more recently, investment returns.

“We are seeking to reduce our expenses in order to come into line with our revenue projections, as a matter of good stewardship,” said a statement from Linda Valentine, executive director of the General Assembly Mission Council, which oversees most of the denomination’s programming and Louisville workforce.

The council had already eliminated 250 jobs in five separate cuts since 2002 — 186 through layoffs and the rest through attrition or other means, according to announcements made at those times.

The council currently has a Louisville workforce of 346, plus nearly 300 mission and other employees in different locations. As recently as two years ago, the council, which oversees foreign missions, many national agencies and support services for local congregations, had 532 employees in Louisville.

The employees offered severance in the most recent round of cuts have until May 3 to respond to the proposal.