wfn.org | BMF partners rebate funds for financial crisis

["Communication Ministries" <wshuffit@cm.disciples.org>]

Date: April 15, 2002
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
E-mail: news@cm.disciples.org
Web: http://www.disciples.org

Contact: Daniel R. Gangler, director of communication
Church Finance Council
dgangler@cfc.disciples.org

02a-31

	INDIANAPOLIS -- During uncertain economic times, ten
Disciples of Christ Basic Mission Finance recipients have
rebated an amount equal to one or more percent of their
2001 BMF receipts. More BMF partners will be considering
the rebate. The funds. have been returned to the Church
Finance Council to assist regions and other BMF partners
who find themselves in financial crisis. 

According to Lois Artis, CFC president, four regions, three
general units, two seminaries and the Disciples Seminary
Foundation have rebated a total of $46,669 as of April 15
with more on the way. The BMF partners have accepted the
voluntary challenge that was give last November by Richard
Hamm, Disciples general minister and president, and the BMF
task force of the Team Leadership Conference. Partners were
challenged to give one or more percent of their BMF
receipts to CFC for distribution where it is most needed to
assist BMF partners in financial emergencies. The
Commission on Mission Funding approved the rebate plan in
January.

Leading the list in dollars to be rebated is the Division
of Overseas Ministries whose board recently approved giving
one percent or $24,595 from its 2001 receipts. Second is
the St. Louis-based National Benevolent Association with a
rebate of $9,936 received by CFC. Church Extension, the
other general unit joining the rebate to date, gave back
$1,200.

Among Disciples four seminaries, Brite Divinity School in
Forth Worth, Texas, and Christian Theological Seminary here
returned $2,500 and $2,250 respectively. The Disciples
Seminary Foundation rebated $1,000.  

Admitting that finances are tight this year, John Mobley,
regional minister of Alabama-Northwest Florida, said his
region has rebated $1,688 to BMF. 

Two other regions, Virginia and South Carolina rebated
$2,500 and $550 respectively.

The emerging Great River Region rebated one percent. The
Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi regions, still in the
process of forming Great River, returned $450 of the
$45,000 given to them from BMF over a two-year period to
assist in forming the new region. 

Joining the nine partners who have responded to the BMF
rebate challenge, Richard Guentert, regional minister of
the Upper Midwest, said his board also "has authorized an
amount equal to 1.5 percent (more than $8,000) of its BMF
receipts for 2001. Guentert said no money has been sent to
CFC from his region's office, but will be coming once cash
flow is ascertained. Whether or not finances will be tight
this year for the Upper-Midwest Region, he said, "there is
no rhyme or reason to BMF cash flow over the long haul."

According to Artis, the Pacific Southwest also will be
rebating one percent or about $2,000. "Within the next
couple of months the boards of many other partners will be
considering a rebate," she said.

Basic Mission Finance supports Disciples missions and
ministries worldwide among 10 general units, 35 regions, 22
institutions of higher education, and a half-dozen other
Disciples-related ministries through Disciples Church
Finance Council. Among these ministries are included a
recent church-wide Black Ministers Retreat with 200
participants, 144 new church starts in 33 states, education
of pastors and leaders at ten theological institutions, six
Children Worship and Wonder training events this year and
stewardship education seminars across the church.

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