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September 2004 |
Giving to connectional ministries beyond Indiana's local churches
By Daniel R. Gangler
Across the United States, a little more than 17 cents of every dollar given to the local church goes to support, through apportionments and other gifts, the mission and ministry of the greater church beyond your congregation's doors. Much of this goes for ministry and mission across the state, region or jurisdiction; nation and around the world. The funding for connectional ministries are apportioned to each congregation based on its number of members and its finances.
The North Indiana Conference connectional support
The North Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church meeting in June at West Lafayette approved a $11.02 million 2005 expense budget (up 3.46 percent or $368,036) for the support of the church beyond its 570 congregations. This is about six cents out of every dollar given to local churches in North Indiana. This connectional apportionment is paid by all local churches of the annual conference for:
General and Jurisdictional support - 25 percent of the NIC budget or $2.88 million. This includes NIC's portion of The United Methodist Church's worldwide outreach ($2.86 million). It also includes support of the North Central Jurisdiction ($19,000), which has primarily responsible for the election and assignment of bishops, as well as ministries to women, men, youth and racial/ethnic ministries across this eight state area of the Midwest.
Annual Conference and Indiana Area support - 4 percent of the NIC budget or $449,000. This includes the bishop's and the area communication offices in Indianapolis, and the annual conference session held in June at Purdue University in West Lafayette;
North Indiana Conference support - 61 percent of the NIC budget or $6.74 million. The North Indiana Conference, based in Marion, provides support ministries to its 570 congregations of North Indiana with church leadership, administration, pensions, health care insurance, pastoral moving expenses, pastors' equitable salary, the media center, seminars, camps, conferences, continuing education, church development and other program ministries to enhance the ministry of the local church.
District Superintendents' support - 10 percent of the NIC budget or $1.14 million. This provides for direct and immediate support of nine district superintendents and their offices who lead ministries, programs and pastoral guidance.
Keeping a stable budget during changing economic times takes some adjustments. According to Brent Williams, NIC treasurer, those adjustments came with a $150,000 increase from the NIC to the general church budget and a $300,000 increase in retirees health subsidy. "Because of the additions at General Conference, we had to remove another $145,000 from the North Indiana Conference budget at the annual conference session in June," said Williams.
The South Indiana Conference connectional support
The South Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church meeting in June at Bloomington approved a $11.14 million 2005 expense budget (up 2.18 percent or $237,605) for the support of the church beyond its 683 congregations. This connectional apportionment is paid by all local churches of the annual conference for:
General and Jurisdictional support - 24.8 percent of the SIC budget or $2.76 million. This includes SIC's portion of The United Methodist Church's worldwide outreach. It also includes support of the North Central Jurisdiction, which has primarily responsible for the election and assignment of bishops, as well as ministries to women, men, youth and racial/ethnic groups across this eight state area of the Midwest.
Annual Conference and Indiana Area support - 4.5 percent of the SIC budget or $501,000. This includes the bishop's and the area communication offices in Indianapolis, and the annual conference session held in June at the Indiana University in Bloomington;
South Indiana Conference support - 62 percent of the SIC budget or $6.91 million. The South Indiana Conference, based in Bloomington, provides support ministries to its 683 congregations of South Indiana with church leadership, administration, pensions, health care insurance, pastoral moving expenses, pastors' equitable salary, the media center, seminars, camps, conferences, continuing education, church development and other program ministries to enhance the ministry of the local church.
District Superintendents' support - 8.7 percent of the SIC budget or $961,000 million. This provides for direct and immediate support of nine district superintendents and their offices who lead ministries, programs and pastoral guidance.
According to Brent Wilson, South Indiana Conference treasurer, "One of the most significant areas of increase in the Annual Conference budget for 2005 was in the Board of Pensions to fund the debt service on the Part-Time Local Pastor pension obligation. These debt payments will continue for the next 15 years until the financing provided by the South Indiana Foundation is completely paid. The other significant area of increase was in our World Service apportionment from General Conference."
Wilson also told Together that the sad reality of when the annual conference has significant increases in fixed costs such as pensions, insurance and pastoral support, program and ministry funding decreases. "In addition to reductions in these 'variable' budgets, we are constantly evaluating the programs and services we provide as an Annual Conference Center (in Bloomington) to determine if it is the best use of our church's apportionment giving and if it is really necessary for us to do at the Annual Conference."
Last updated on 08/23/2004