wfn.org | Joint meeting concludes General Conference preparation

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

Nov. 18, 1999	News media contact: Joretta Purdue·(202)546-8722·Washington
10-71B{618}

ROSEMONT, Ill. (UMNS) - Two United Methodist agencies, meeting jointly Nov.
16, quickly concluded the last actions needed to prepare three reports for
the denomination's highest legislative meeting next May.

Voting members of the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA)
and the General Council on Ministries (GCOM) together approved the
conservative 2001-2004 budget for World Service agencies to be presented to
General Conference, when it meets May 2-12 in Cleveland.

World Service agencies were created by previous General Conferences to carry
on the mission and ministry of the church. 

World Service is the largest of the apportioned funds - those that are
divided among the annual (regional) conferences to provide financial support
for basic ministry and administration.

The proposed $174 million for program agencies in 2001-2004 is actually less
than the amount budgeted for the current four-year period by the 1996
General Conference. Using new budgeting guidelines prepared during this
quadrennium by GCFA, several agencies will be supplementing the money
received from the World Service Fund with money from other sources including
endowments and investments if General Conference approves the proposed
budget.

Other joint action required of the two agencies included a review of all
current agency headquarters and staff locations. The joint report to General
Conference recommends approval of current locations. It noted that most
headquarters buildings are completely paid for and had been made into first
class office facilities. No agency was reported to be dissatisfied with its
facility. The report concluded:

"The uncertainty around the outcomes recommended by the CPT (Connectional
Process Team) Report make it almost impossible to recommend any type of move
for any general agency until the General Conference has determined the
organizational structure of the United Methodist Church."

GCOM and GCFA together evaluated the Churches' Center for Theology and
Public Policy, established in 1976 with funds from the sale of some
Washington area property. This think tank or research center for mainline
Protestants and Roman Catholics is perhaps best known for the resources it
provided United Methodist bishops in developing their initiative "In Defense
of Creation."

Evaluations performed in 1992 and 1996 urged the center to encourage
increased use by United Methodists and to broaden its base of financial
support. The 1996 General Conference also advised the center to provide
greater inclusiveness on its board and in the authors it publishes.

The report to the 2000 General Conference by the two agencies notes a need
for more progress in these areas and recommends funding in 2001 and 2002 at
reduced levels and another evaluation in 2002 to determine the center's
success in following the recommendations and to determine funding for 2003
and 2004.

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