wfn.org | Apportioned Giving Increases

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern, about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST
NEWS SERVICE (3060 notes).

Note 3060 by UMNS on July 15, 1996 at 16:52 Eastern (3041 characters).

SEARCH:   apportionments, giving, benevolence, GCFA, stewardship,
funds, general funds

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

Contact:  Joretta Purdue                          346(10-71){3060}
          Washington, D.C.  (202) 546-8722           July 22, 1996

Apportioned giving rises
during first half of 1996

     EVANSTON, Ill. (UMNS) -- In the first six months of 1996,
United Methodist giving to the major benevolence funds of the
church are up, according to the denomination's finance agency.
     "The 1996 apportioned money received reflects a 3 1/2 percent
increase." noted Sandra Kelley Lackore, general secretary of the
United Methodist General Council on Finance and Administration
(GCFA), headquartered here.
     Apportioned funds are outreach and administrative funds
raised by allocating the budget amounts to the church's annual
conferences -- regional bodies -- and through them to
congregations on the basis of number of members and financial
data.
     Total apportioned funds received at the denominational level
by June 30, 1996, were slightly more than $33.7 million, a 3.56
increase over the comparable amount for 1995. Apportioned giving
by June 30 that year totaled just under $32.6 million.
     Looking at the percentage of growth, Lackore observed that
the Africa University Fund and Black College Fund showed the
largest gains. Giving to the Africa University Fund had swelled by
8.12 percent to $771,500; and to Black College Fund, 7.3 percent
to total $2.9 million.
     Other apportioned fund growth included a 7.2 percent increase
in the Ministerial Education Fund and 5.28 in Mission Initiatives.
The latter includes special ministries related to college
students, drug- and substance-abuse issues, Hispanic and Native
American people, older adults, and the deaf.
     Administrative funds that support the bishops and their work,
general administration of the denomination and its participation
in interdenominational organizations grew 5.6, 6.2 and 4.8 percent
respectively.
     Also an apportioned fund, World Service experienced the
lowest rate of growth, but a near 1 percent or $159,800 increase
brought World Service giving to just under $17.6 million for
January through June 1996.
     Of the six special Sunday offerings, Native American
Awareness Sunday and Peace With Justice Sunday experienced growth
so far this year. The others include Human Relations Day, One
Great Hour of Sharing, United Methodist Student Day and World
Communion Sunday.
     Giving to churchwide Advance Specials during the first six
months of 1996 totaled $12 million. That fund, which provides
designated giving opportunities for disaster relief, special
appeals, and world and national mission projects, varies with
world conditions and was not compared with amounts in similar
categories from the previous year.
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