The National Council of Churches announced it will move its headquarters to Washington D.C. from New York in a move expected to save the council hundreds of thousands of dollars in the long-term.

NCC Transitional General Secretary Peg Birk, who is in charge of implementing the plan, will join other staff at the Council's office in the nation's capital, according to an NCC statement on Wednesday.

Other changes include eliminating six administrative positions. Outside vendors will be used to provide human resource, IT, strategic accounting and communications support, Birk said.

She said the long-run savings of the moves are projected to be between $400,000 and $500,000.

"The critical NCC policy work can be coordinated from any location but to be the prophetic 'voice of the faithful' on the ground in the places of power, it is best served by establishing our operations in Washington," said NCC Transitional General Secretary Peg Birk.

The NCC currently has offices at the Interchurch Center building in New York City. Its Washington D.C. office is located in the United Methodist building within walking distance to the Supreme Court and Capitol building. Both buildings have histories of housing church offices and faith-based organizations.

The NCC said Birk will join Cassandra Carmichael, head of the NCC's Washington Office, Shantha Ready Alonso, director of the NCC's poverty initiative, Nate Hosler, advocacy officer and ecumenical peace coordinator, and Tyler Edgar, assistant director of the NCC's eco-justice program.

The NCC said it would remain in New York through "satellite offices" for Dr. Joseph Crockett, associate general secretary, Education and Leadership Ministries; Dr. Antonio Kireopoulos, associate general secretary, Faith and Order and Interfaith relations; and the Rev. Ann Tienmeyer, program director, NCC Women's Ministries.