United Methodist giving increases modestly

A UMNS file photo by John C. Goodwin Sandra Lackore is the denomination treasurer and chief executive of the General Council on Finance and Administration.

United Methodist giving to churchwide ministry and administration is up modestly compared with last year at the end of November, but totals just 59.5 percent of the year’s goal.

The denomination, like other churches and charities, receives a disproportionate amount of its annual income during the last weeks of a year.

At the end of November, donations to the seven funds that make up the bulk of the general church budget had increased 2.9 percent over 2003, a gain of more than $2.2 million.

But because the conferences were being asked for more during 2004, according to the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) additional giving was only a 0.3 percent greater portion of the "asking" or amount budgeted for churchwide mission and ministry.

World Service -- the largest of the funds -- is up $1.2 million, also an increase of 2.9 percent, according to figures released by the denomination’s General Council on Finance and Administration. World Service provides the basic support for most of the denomination’s general agencies.

Only the Black College Fund and the Episcopal Fund showed greater growth, having risen 3.3 percent and 3.2 percent respectively. Giving to the other funds increased by the following percentages: Africa University, 1.9 percent; Ministerial Education, 2.8; General Administration, 2; and Interdenominational Cooperation, 1.9.

The denomination has six churchwide special Sunday offerings. Giving to these as a whole was down 1.9 percent from 2003. Only One Great Hour of Sharing, which benefits the United Methodist Committee on Relief, increased from last year. The largest of the special offerings, it had received almost $3.2 million to date.

"As important as year-end financials are for our denomination, more important is the spiritual health of our local churches," commented Sandra Lackore, denomination treasurer and GCFA chief executive. "During this time of Advent, when we have the opportunity to appreciate anew God's gift of his son and all that represents, my hope and prayer is that Methodists around our great denomination will respond through their giving."

*Purdue is a retired staff writer of United Methodist News Service.

News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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