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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
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November/December 2005 |
Conferences approve, adjust 2006 connectional ministries budgets
Together the budgets represent a $2.49 million decrease
By Daniel R. Gangler
Both the North and South Indiana United Methodist Conferences recently have either approved or adjusted their 2006 budgets to better match the income they anticipate to receive from the states 1,260 United Methodist Congregations. Both conferences have decreased their budgets significantly in 2006 over their current budgets - the North Conference by $1.27 million (11.5 percent) and the South by $1.22 million (11.1 percent).
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 each congregation's doors. These funds go for ministry and mission across the state, region or jurisdiction; nation and around the world to support The United Methodist Church globally.
North Indiana Conference connectional support
During a three-hour special session Oct. 8 at Granger Community United Methodist Church, the North Indiana Annual Conference approved a $9.74 million 2006 expense budget (down 11.58 percent or $1.27 million) for the support of the church beyond its 570 congregations. This connectional giving is paid by all local churches of the annual conference for:
General and Jurisdictional support - 30.2 percent of the NIC budget or $2.95 million. This includes NIC's portion of The United Methodist Church's worldwide outreach including. 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 Sessions and Indiana Area support - 4.4 percent of the NIC budget or $425,000 (a 5.5 percent decrease from 2005). This includes the bishop's and the area communication offices in Indianapolis, and the annual conference sessions held in June at Purdue University in West Lafayette;
North Indiana Conference support - 54.3 percent of the NIC budget or $5.29 million (a $1.45 million decrease from 2005). The North Indiana Conference, based in Marion, Ind. 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 - 11.1 percent of the NIC budget or $1.08 million (a 5.25 percent decrease from 2005). This provides for direct and immediate support of nine district superintendents and their offices who oversee districts and pastors, lead ministries, programs and pastoral guidance.
Also approved by the North Indiana Conference session this year is a new concept in connectional giving know as "tithing plus." At the annual conference session, churches agreed to remit one tenth (a tithe) of their income each month to the conference treasurer for conference connectional ministries plus the receipts of special offerings and other means of income for General Church apportionments.
The 2006 budget of $9.74 million for connectional ministries is a substantial 11.58 percent decrease from the current 2005 conference budget of $11.02 million. The North Indiana Conference Council on Finance and Administration hopes to receive $8.27 million in this tithe method of remittances plus another $1.47 million in special offerings for the General Church.
In a written statement, the North Indiana Conference Strategy Council told the annual conference, "by honing in on the essentials and paring away non-essentials, we believe that we will be in a better position as an Annual Conference to accomplish the primary task for which we have been called together." The council believes, "the Annual Conference exists in order to help the local church make disciples for Jesus Christ."
South Indiana Conference connectional support
In June at Bloomington the South Indiana Conference approved and later refined through the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, a $9.76 million 2006 expense budget (down 11.12 percent or $1.22 million from the 2005 budget) for the support of the church beyond its 690 congregations. This connectional apportionment is paid by all local churches of the annual conference for:
General and Jurisdictional support - 28.5 percent of the SIC budget or $2.78 million. This includes SIC's portion of The United Methodist Church's worldwide outreach including the World Service fund. 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 such as the Jurisdictional Volunteers in Mission program that helps coordinate volunteers working with hurricane recovery on the Gulf Coast.
Annual Conference sessions and Indiana Area support - 5.4 percent of the SIC budget or $522,943. 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 - 56.3 percent of the SIC budget or $5.5 million (down from $6.91 million in 2005). The South Indiana Conference, based in Bloomington, provides support ministries to its 690 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 - 9.8 percent of the SIC budget or $961,000 (same as 2005). This provides for direct and immediate support of nine district superintendents and their offices who oversee churches and pastors, lead ministries, programs and pastoral guidance.
A significant change in this South Indiana Conference budget from the 2005 budget is a 43.5 percent decline in the Conference Council on Ministries budget which went from $3.25 million to $1.8 million. Also for the third year in a row, pastors group health insurance has decreased 1.67 percent to $1.44 million. The only significant increase in the budget is 12.78 percent of $163,952 increase in World Service askings, which is determined by the General Conference of the church every four years.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008