wfn.org | Giving to church by United Methodists continues to grow

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

July 15 1998	Contact: Joretta Purdue*(202)546-8722*Washington
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By United Methodist News Service

Giving by United Methodists to the denomination's apportioned funds for
churchwide programs was up almost 2 percent during the first half of
this year, according to a top agency executive.

The eight funds that receive those apportionments stood at $34.65
million at midyear - $600,000 higher than they were on June 30, 1997,
said Sandra Kelley Lackore, the denomination's treasurer and general
secretary of the General Council on Finance and Administration. That
represents an increase of 1.8 percent in giving from the annual
(regional) conferences to finance churchwide ministries and
administration.

Giving to World Service, the church's basic benevolence fund, is up
$400,000, or 2.2 percent, compared with a year earlier. World Service
receipts were $18 million at the midyear point in 1997 and are $18.4
million this year.

The other apportioned funds are for outreach and administration: Africa
University, Black College, Ministerial Education, Focus 2000: Mission
Initiatives, Episcopal, General Administration and Interdenominational
Cooperation.

When the budget was being set for the quadrennium, a commitment was made
to keep increases in apportionments to a minimum, Lackore recalled. As
part of that move, the annual conferences would try to raise the
percentage of the apportionments they paid. Last year's total giving to
the apportioned funds exceeded the 2 percent "catch-up" goal.

"So far, we think that's very possible this year too - one, given the
annual conferences' commitment, and two, given the strong economy,"
Lackore said.

June remittances from 18 annual conferences - four more than last year -
were not received or came in too late to be included in the most recent
figures, so some underreporting exists in the midyear data, Lackore
said. "Like the annual conferences, the general church depends on
conferences getting their funds in for an accurate picture."

The smallest and newest apportioned fund, Focus 2000: Mission
Initiatives, had the largest percentage increase over last year, 4.65
percent. The fund's Shared Mission Focus on Young People program has
made some major commitments, so the increase in giving may reflect a
better understanding of the partnership available with local churches
through this effort, Lackore said.

"When Special Sunday offering receipts are taken into account, the 1998
midyear total is about $1 million higher than the comparable 1997
figure," Lackore added. The income for the six Special Sunday offerings
stands at $3.5 million so far this year and was $3.11 million on June 30
last year. The offerings are taken on Human Relations Day, Native
American Awareness Sunday, One Great Hour of Sharing, Peace With Justice
Sunday, United Methodist Student Day and World Communion Sunday.

Giving for emergency relief and other mission programs, including the
Advance Special and other gifts, brings the total United Methodist
giving for churchwide ministries to $51.4 million for the first half of
1998.

GCFA is sharing with conference financial officers a comparison, by
jurisdiction, of giving for the years 1992 and 1997, for each
apportioned fund. The agency is installing new computer software that
will speed access to and analysis of financial data.

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
Releases and photos also available at
http://www.umc.org/umns/