wfn.org | UMNS# 04587-Faith triumphs over adversity in Florida

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

Faith triumphs over adversity in Florida 

Dec. 13, 2004	 News media contact:   Linda  Green * (615) 7425470* 
Nashville {04587}

NOTE: A related article, UMNS # 586, accompanies this story.

A UMNS Feature
By Joretta Purdue*

Adversity may bring out the best in some people, if the financial giving of
United Methodists in some areas is any indication. 

"Our connectional giving is up this year," reported Randy Casey-Rutland,
treasurer of the denomination's Florida Annual (regional) Conference, which
includes all of the state except the panhandle. Giving increased despite the
fact that "many of our churches were negatively affected by three hurricanes
this year." 

Some 30 percent of all United Methodist properties in Florida were damaged by
the storms. More importantly, Casey-Rutland noted, members lost homes,
businesses, jobs and sometimes friends or loved ones. 

"Hurricanes -- as any disaster -- have profound and long-term effects, but
with every disaster is an opportunity for ministry," he said. The response of
other less-affected congregations within the conference and of the larger
connection have supported the congregations in the hard-hit areas and offered
an opportunity to refocus on people in need.

The annual conference's process of transformation over the past year may be
important, too, he added. Florida Conference has restructured itself,
reducing the number of districts from 14 to nine. Every church in the
conference is now part of a church cluster. Theological and ecclesial
motivation has shifted the focus from vertical to horizontal relationships --
or from churches relating to district and conference events and ministry to
relating to neighboring churches. The churches work together to improve the
church and the world, Casey-Rutland said. 

All the local churches have been affected, and the changes have generally
been well received and seen as positive changes, he added. "There have been
lots of people involved in discussions of who we are as a church," he
explained. 

"Hurricanes provided opportunity and motivation to be in ministry, to reach
out to people. The churches have responded in powerful and exciting ways," he
said.

Western North Carolina, in the northward path of the hurricanes, experienced
heavy flooding and mudslides this summer, destroying or damaging hundreds of
homes and other structures.

"The floods have spurred increased giving to Advance specials for relief,"
acknowledged the Rev. William C. Wyman, conference treasurer, but the regular
operational funds have received less. "Our economic conditions here are
really, really, really not recovering well."

Textile and furniture plants have closed, and their jobs have gone elsewhere.
"A lot of our churches are in desperate economic conditions," Wymun said.

Western North Carolina Conference's giving to the general church is running
11 percent behind this time last year. Florida's giving is up almost 4
percent. Meanwhile, Illinois Great Rivers Conference -- central and southern
Illinois -- has risen sharply.

Brenda Barton, conference treasurer, explained that the conference voted last
year to give the general church 100 percent of the amount asked, so this year
the conference simply divided that amount and has been paying 12 equal
installments. Since giving is cyclical at the local level, the conference is
using reserves to supplement its receipts. 

Barton has been tracking the area's congregational giving. At the end of
November, it was 1.83 percent less than last year, continuing a downward
trend she has been seeing for the past seven years. One factor, she said, is
a lack of growth in many towns within the conference while church expenses
continue to rise.

Florida, Western North Carolina and Illinois Great Rivers are three of the 63
conferences in the United States, along with 59 annual conferences in other
parts of the world. Each is different, but each is the same as they seek to
know what it means to be a part of God's church in the 21st century.

"People need to give in the same measure that God has given to us," said
Sandra Lackore, treasurer of the United Methodist Church and head of its
agency for financial administration. She called Advent a time to be thankful
for being alive and for God's gift of his son.

 "God first gave to us, so we give back what is God's," she said. "It's not
about budgets. It's about Christian discipleship."

* Purdue is a retired United Methodist News Service news director.

News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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United Methodist News Service