Stewardship

Finance Team Meets

February 12 7:00pm

Finance/Stewardship Team Meeting

December 18 7:00pm

2008 Operating Budget

December 4 7:00pm

Meeting

November 26 7:00pm

Thank You

Stewardship Team Meeting

May 15 8:15pm

Florida Receives Assistance from Shared Ministry

February 6

UMCOR Responds to Florida Storms

10 Biblical Reasons to Tithe

January 10

1. It is a tried and proven pattern of giving by godly people throughout the ages (regardless of cultures and income levels). Genesis 14:17-20, 28:16-22; Leviticus 27:30; Proverbs 3:9-10;

3. It will bring God’s wisdom and order to your finances and will help you harness the dragon of materialism. Matthew 6:19-21, 24-34; Luke 12:16-21; 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19; Ecclesiastes 5:10

5. It will allow you to experience God’s creative care and provisions in ways you would not otherwise experience. 1 Kings 17; Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:7-15; Haggai 1:4-11, 2:15-10;

9. It will help provide the means to keep your pastor and missionaries in full-time Christian service. 1 Corinthians 9:9-11,14; 1 Timothy 5:17,18; 3 John 5-8; Philippians 4:15-19; Galatians 6:6;

10. It will help accomplish needed building projects and renovations. 2 Chronicles 24:4-14; Exodus 35 & 36; 2 Kings 12:2-16; 1 Chronicles 29:2-10; Ezekiel 1:4-6

Giving in the Church

January 5

The Privacy of Financial Giving
By George C. Engelhardt

Financial giving in the church should be kept private, but not secret! An early stewardship mentor of mine once observed: "If money is a matter for secrecy in a congregation, then money has become too important to that church!" Almost always, secrecy about members' financial giving is a symptom of unhealthy, poor giving. Secrecy is really a cover for individual or collective shame about how little we give. Embarrassment about giving reveals a congregation that has not reached the point of being generous, joyful givers, alive in discovering the gospel truth that in giving, we receive.

Giving should be private, but not secret. Privacy means that our financial commitment to our local church ought not be a matter of public record. Not secret means that we should feel comfortable knowing that information about our gifts is available to those within the church who have reason to know. At least two — and possibly four — parties fall into that category.

The financial secretary must know.
No one disputes that the financial secretary must have information about the giving patterns of members. Keeping accurate records is an important ministry of the local church. Accurate record keeping is a responsibility of any institution that receives funds, including the church. Effective financial secretaries inform members and friends of the church about the status of their financial giving at various times throughout the year.

The financial secretary plays an important role in financial planning, which is crucial for a faithful response to the vision of ministry God gives every congregation. The vision has global, local, ecumenical, denominational, and congregational dimensions, all of which draw upon the financial resources and resolve of the local congregation.

Finally, the financial secretary often is able to inform the pastor about individuals and families who need pastoral attention. In multiple-point charges or in congregations served by part-time clergy, the role of the financial secretary is even more crucial. Indeed, it may be that the financial secretary, in congregations where the pastor is not continually present, is the one who mobilizes pastoral care to those in apparent financial need.

The pastor should know.
Jesus spoke extensively about money. What we do with our possessions — the "attitude of ownership" we entertain about our resources — is spiritually significant. Consequently, it makes as little sense to advocate that pastors not know what parishioners give as it would be to advocate that pastors not be involved in providing support, advice, and counsel about the prayer life of parishioners. Our use of money is spiritual and is of legitimate concern to pastors.

Pastors commonly voice reservations about having access to information about parishioners' giving. They fear the knowledge will bias their ministries; namely, that generous financial givers will receive preferential attention. They worry that the knowledge will taint their ministry with those who give less.

Several questionable assumptions underlie such pastoral reserve. One unspoken assumption is that money is a "tainted" subject that clergy ought to leave to the world, while they concentrate on "spiritual" matters. Another questionable assumption is that financial stewardship is purely a lay responsibility, falling outside the sphere of ordained ministry. Clouded here is the distinction between inviting people to share in supporting the ministry of the church (which is a ministry of the laity) and nurturing a biblically sound understanding of the requirements and blessing of being faithful stewards. This latter function is a vital aspect of pastoral ministry. Pastors who understand this distinction offer strong biblical preaching and teaching about stewardship.

The above assumptions ignore the emphasis that Jesus placed upon material resources — especially money — in his teaching about people's spiritual well-being. Jesus rejected the artificial separation between accountability for the use of our possessions and our spiritual wholeness. Discipleship involves the purse as well as the heart. Jesus made money a spiritual, therefore a pastoral, concern. The pastor's responsibilities in ministry require knowledgeable selection of leaders in the congregation who model faithful discipleship, including financial discipleship.

The fundamental factor in a pastor's willingness to know the giving of parishioners, however, is that pastor's feelings about his or her own giving. The pastor's own stewardship commitment, more than anything else, will shape and nurture a congregation's attitude about money and financial stewardship.

The finance committee may know.
In capital campaigns and in the annual stewardship campaign, it would be helpful for financial coordinators and visitors to know the giving profiles of those whom they visit. Such knowledge would allow compatible visits to be arranged so that people could converse with their peers about Christian giving. We should not ask others to give, proportionally, more than we ourselves give.

The congregation may know.
One of the most effective ways of nurturing financial stewardship happens through the witness of those who have already discovered the joy of giving. Personal testimonies need not be thought of as bragging, anymore than testifying to the reality of answered prayer in our lives is boastful. Both witness to the goodness of God, and both offer encouragement to others. Those willing to address publicly (in worship, in small-group gatherings, or in mailings) the joy they have found in giving become blessings to others who need reassurance to become generous, joyful givers.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

In meetings within the local church:

• Is money "too important" in our congregation?
  
• Are we overly concerned about secrecy? Who knows the giving records of individuals within the parish?
  
• Do we keep accurate records of giving?
  
• Could we make better use of our financial secretary?
  
• How would our congregation feel about the pastor having access to giving records? How do we establish permission for the pastor to have this information?

For pastors to reflect upon and discuss with one another:

• Am I comfortable with my own use of money and satisfied with the amount I share with the church?
  
• What messages about money and finances have shaped my attitudes and my ministry?
  
• How has my knowledge about the giving of parishioners influenced my ministry with them?
  
• How might my ministry be enhanced if I took a more active role in the financial life of parishioners?
  
• What steps should I take to become more involved in the giving of parishioners and the finances of my congregation?

Written by George C. Engelhardt, Superintendent, Connecticut Central District, New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Edited by David S. Bell, Director, Center for Christian Stewardship of The United Methodist Church.

Copyright © 2004 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. All rights reserved. Any local church, regardless of denominational affiliation, or any United Methodist organization may reprint any or all of this document provided that the author is cited and the following copyright notice appears:

Copyright © 2004 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. Used with permission.

World Service Fund Explanation

January 2007

The Story of the World Service Fund apportionment in The United Methodist Church

The Story of the General Administration Fund apportionment in The United Methodist Church

The General Administration Fund apportionment supports general church administrative activities. Nurtured and funded by United Methodists, the fund: Maintains a system of management oversight and fiscal accountability; Underwrites the legislative work of General Conference, the arena in which United Methodists come together to work through their differences and to discover the important things that unite them; Supports the work of the Judicial Council to adjudicate questions of church law; Maintains official documents and historical artifacts of The United Methodist Church and predecessor denominations; and Designates historical church shrines, landmarks and sites.

The Story of the Black College Fund Apportionment in The United Methodist Church

Since 1972, the Black College Fund has supported the programs and ministries of 11 historically Black colleges and universities. It is nurtured and funded by United Methodists through the Black College Fund apportionment. This apportioned fund supports departmental research, libraries, operations and physical plant maintenance. It also supports capital expenditures such as new buildings, major remodeling projects and endowments. The importance of this apportioned fund is how it affects the lives of students. These 11 historically Black colleges and universities provide opportunities for many students of promise who otherwise might be excluded from the educational process. They provide a high-quality education and produce many African-American leaders in the United States and in the church. "Life is hard. College is hard, but life without college is harder," said Tarnisha Nataska Adams, a graduate of Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Ark. "Without education, there's no way you can make it. Because of your love and support, I was able to graduate from Philander Smith College. Continue to support the Black College Fund and students like me. Give us the opportunities to achieve in life. I thank you sincerely."

The Story of the Africa University Fund Apportionment in The United Methodist Church

Since 1992, Africa University, the only United Methodist degree-granting university in Africa, has served and graduated hundreds of men and women from 20 countries. It is nurtured and funded by United Methodists through the Africa University Fund apportionment. This apportioned fund supports ongoing operations, including building maintenance, utilities, classroom equipment and supplies, faculty and staff salaries, and other operational expenses. The importance of this apportioned fund is its impact on the lives of students. In a continent torn by war, AIDS, poverty, cyclones, and other natural and human-made hardships, Africa University shines as a beacon of hope and light. "I hope a new breed of young men and women with vision is going to come out of the institution to champion social change in Africa," said Rutendo Mandunya from Zimbabwe. Yollande Samba Mavund from the Democratic Republic of Congo adds, "If, in the future, I'll be able to help even one person, I'll do it with happiness and love because of what the church has done for me. Thank you."

The Story of the Ministerial Education Fund apportionment in The United Methodist Church

Since 1968 the Ministerial Education Fund apportionment has helped thousands of men and women become pastoral leaders in The United Methodist Church. It is nurtured and funded by United Methodists to provide: Vitally needed scholarships through annual conferences; Essential funds for the support of our 13 United Methodist seminaries in the United States; Programs that encourage men and women to respond to the call to ordained ministry; Continuing-education opportunities for pastors across the connection; and Course-of-study education for local pastors. The importance of the Ministerial Education Fund apportionment is how it affects the quality of pastors serving in The United Methodist Church. Funding quality education in our seminaries is, undoubtedly, our most important investment in the future.

The Story of the Episcopal Fund Apportionment in The United Methodist Church

A bishop's task is noble and practical. United Methodist bishops oversee and promote the church's spiritual interests. The Episcopal Fund apportionment provides economic support for these diverse and important tasks. Nurtured and funded by United Methodists, the Episcopal Fund apportionment: Pays bishops' salaries Pays episcopal office expenses, subject to approval by the General Council on Finance and Administration Reimburses 67 percent of the costs for episcopal residences Provides pension and health benefit coverage for bishops and their families and disability coverage for bishops Covers the cost of episcopal travel Defrays moving expenses Provides pensions for retired bishops and surviving spouses, and minor children of deceased bishops

The Story of the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund Apportionment

United Methodists are a small part of the worldwide Christian church--the living body of Jesus Christ. The Interdenominational Cooperation Fund apportionment was established in 1952 to:    support ecumenical efforts around the world;    witness to the Christian faith;    foster a renewal of Christian unity and understanding;    meet human suffering; and    advocate for global peace and justice. Giving to the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund apportionment nurtures the ministries of Churches Uniting in Christ, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, the World Council of Churches, the World Methodist Council and the Commission on Pan-Methodist Cooperation and Union.