wfn.org | Church giving stays on par with last year, despite economy

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

July 12, 2002    News media contact: Joretta Purdue7(202)
546-87227Washington     10-71B{297}

By United Methodist News Service

United Methodists kept up their church contributions during the first half
of this year, despite the U.S. economy's downturn.

Giving to the church was roughly equal to the contributions for the first
six months of 2001, according to the denomination's financial administration
agency.

The General Council on Finance and Administration, based in Evanston, Ill.,
reports total contributions of $38.4 million to the funds that support
churchwide mission and ministry, as of June 30. That's $18,579 more than the
first six months' figure for 2001.

The $38.4 million represents about 30 percent of the year's budget for
churchwide work. 
The money is raised by a system of apportionments in which the budgetary
needs of the denomination, set every four years by its top legislative body,
are allocated to regional administrative units called annual conferences.
The apportionments are distributed through seven funds.

Four of the apportioned funds experienced slight increases, including World
Service. The largest of the apportioned funds, World Service had receipts
that were up less than 1 percent over the comparable amount last year.
Income for the fund stood at $20.6 million at the end of June.

Other funds showing modest increases, along with their to-date totals, were
Black College, $3.2 million; Episcopal, $5.4 million; and General
Administration, almost $1.7 million. Funds with decreases were Africa
University, which has received $791,154; Ministerial Education, $5.9
million; and Interdenominational Cooperation, $634,078.

United Methodists also gave more to the offerings on the church's six
special Sundays. Receipts for all six special offerings total almost $3.4
million. That figure represents an 8.3 percent increase over the 2001
six-month total.

Giving was up 5 percent for the two largest special Sunday funds -- One
Great Hour of Sharing and Human Relations Day. World Communion Sunday had
the largest percentage increase, 42.8 percent, followed by Native American
Ministries Sunday at 35.4 percent. United Methodist Student Day had a 23.4
percent jump in receipts, and Peace With Justice Sunday, which had the
smallest offering, grew 22.7 percent. 

Together, the apportioned giving and the special offerings amount to nearly
$41.8 million, a slight increase over last year's comparable amount of $41.5
million.

In addition, United Methodists have given $17 million this year to
churchwide relief efforts, special mission programs and bishops' appeals.
The total amount of those donations goes to the specified programs; none of
it goes to administrative costs, which are already paid by the church.

The $17 million includes $8.8 million for the United Methodist Committee on
Relief, the church's international relief and development arm. The funds to
UMCOR include $2.7 million for "Love in the Midst of Tragedy," the church's
response to the Sept. 11 attacks and the need for humanitarian aid in
Afghanistan. United Methodists already had given $17.5 million to the fund
during the last months of 2001.

In all, the annual conferences have forwarded $59 million to GCFA for the
first half of this year. Traditionally, this money represents about 4
percent of the dollars donated through the collection plate. Most of the
money given to United Methodist churches is used for local ministry. Another
portion is used for district, conference and jurisdictional work.

An additional $321,700 has been received for World Service Special Gifts and
the Youth Service Fund this year. Those two funds and the other
designated-giving totals vary widely with need and are not compared with
previous years for that reason.

"During a time of uncertain economic activity, your giving demonstrates
dedication for our denominational commitment to ministry and mission,"
Sandra Kelley Lackore, top GCFA staff executive and treasurer for the
church, told church members in the report. "Keep up the good work."
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United Methodist News Service
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