wfn.org | United Methodist Giving on Target

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (376
notes).

Note 376 by UMNS on Oct. 9, 1997 at 12:31 Eastern (3169 characters).

CONTACT:  Joretta Purdue  	564(10-71B){376}
		Washington, D.C.  (202) 546-8722  	Oct. 9, 1997

EDITORS NOTE: Bar graph available.  Call (615) 742-5470.

United Methodist "apportioned" giving
right on target, says GCFA executive

	by United Methodist News Service

	Three-quarters of the way through 1997, United Methodist giving to
apportioned funds is "right on target," according to the head of the church's
financial and administrative agency.
	Apportioned funds are requested from the annual (regional) conferences -- and
through them to the local church -- to support the common work of the church.
They support a number of ministries and administrative needs of the
denomination.
	Dollar giving for all the apportioned funds was up 7.39 percent, totaling
$51.9 million at this time in 1996 and almost $55.8 million this year.
	"When we recommended an essentially flat budget for 1997 and 1998, it was
with the hope and expectation that United Methodists would commit themselves
to increasing the percentage paid on the apportionments by 2 percent each
year," said Sandra Kelley Lackore, top executive of the General Council of
Finance and Administration (GCFA). "As of the end of the third quarter, we are
right on target."
	The 1997 year-to-date total represents 47.1 percent of the total amount
apportioned. At this point in 1996, apportioned giving stood at 44.3 percent
of the total apportionment.
	Although General Conference, the church's highest legislative body, first
voted a 1997 and 1998 apportionment that matched that of 1996, addition of the
nearly $1.2 million needed annually for Focus 2000: Mission Initiatives raised
the 1997 total apportionments by about 1 percent.
	Lackore said she believes the increased giving reflects a "connectional
commitment" between church members and the denomination's agencies "to keep
faith with the budget we brought to General Conference." She hopes that the
final end-of-the-year percentage of apportionment will continue to be 2
percentage points higher than last year's figure.
	She noted that a partnership between United Methodist Communications, the
Board of Discipleship and GCFA has resulted in several projects to help
individual conferences with their giving.
	In addition, GCFA now sends remittance forms monthly instead of at the
beginning of the year, Lackore added.
	She praised the Wisconsin and Central Pennsylvania annual conferences for
paying exactly 1/12 of their apportionments every month.
	The World Service Fund, largest of the apportioned funds, has received $29.5
million this year, an increase of 6.4 percent.
	Giving to the six special Sunday offerings also is up with the exception of
United Methodist Student Day, which occurs later in the year. To date receipts
for all six offerings total $3.9 million this year, compared with $3.6 million
on Sept. 30, 1996.
	Non-apportioned donations for mission, relief, development and special
appeals has amounted to almost $18.1 million to date. 	Two other outreach
funds -- World Service Special Gifts and Youth Service Fund  between them
have received about $1.5 million.
	#  #  #

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