wfn.org | Special Sundays Being Evaluated

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

CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally				  (10-71B){145}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470	 March 11, 1998

How special are
'special Sundays'?

	NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- Ongoing efforts are being made to
ensure that "special Sundays" in the United Methodist Church are truly
special.
	Currently, the denomination has six special Sundays when
churchwide offerings are requested. In addition, there are two special
Sundays without churchwide offerings and four that provide opportunities
for annual conference offerings.
	A consultation to discuss special Sundays is scheduled by a
joint task force representing the General Council on Ministries (GCOM)
and the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) for May
21-22 near O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.
	The purpose of the consultation is to hear from agencies with
responsibilities for currently designated special Sundays and to receive
new special Sunday observance proposals. The team will also receive from
United Methodist Communications an assessment study that the agency has
done on special Sundays. The agency has responsibility for promoting the
special days.
	Any individual or group planning to propose another special
Sunday to the next General Conference in the year 2000 is particularly
encouraged to attend, according to GCOM staff member Donald L. Hayashi.
	At each of the last three general conferences, a special Sunday
was added to the church's calendar: Native American Awareness Sunday in
1988 (with churchwide offering); Rural Life Sunday in 1992 (with
possible annual conference offering); and Disability Awareness Sunday in
1996 (with possible annual conference offering).	
	"The number of special Sundays has been a concern for many
years," Hayashi said. "How many special Sundays, particularly with
offerings, can a local church handle and really make them special?"
	In addition to churchwide observances, Hayashi said one annual
conference has 20 observances of its own. "How can these special Sundays
be special when there are so many?" he asked.
	On the other hand, he said the task force recognizes that
"special concerns provide opportunity for teaching and learning as well
as honoring the contributions of many who make up the United Methodist
Church."
	Each quadrennium, a task force reviews the special Sundays and
recommends which should receive the designation and which should include
offerings. Recommendations then go to the Council of Bishops for their
input and assessment. From there, recommendations are made by the GCOM
and GCFA to the general conference.
	Special Sundays with churchwide offerings are:
Human Relations Day, One Great Hour of Sharing, World Communion Sunday,
United Methodist Student Day, Peace with Justice Sunday and Native
American Awareness Sunday.
	Special Sundays without churchwide offerings are:
Heritage Sunday and Laity Sunday.
	Special Sundays providing opportunities for annual conference
offerings are: Christian Education Sunday, Golden Cross Sunday, Rural
Life Sunday and Disability Awareness Sunday.
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