Bishop's Special Christmas Offering funds distributed worldwide

INDIANAPOLIS - More than $66,000 in funds received from the 2004 Bishop's Special Christmas Offering were distributed across Indiana, the United States and around the world during an April 19 meeting of the Indiana Area offering committee in Indianapolis.

Of the projects approved by the committee, one-third of the funds will go to Indiana projects, one-third will go to Advanced Specials in United States and one-third will go to Advanced Specials beyond the United States. All Advance ministries are related to United Methodist annual conferences in the U.S. and Central conferences beyond the U.S. or interfaith organizations approved by The United Methodist Church. The projects are administered by the denomination's General Board of Global Ministries.

The funds were primarily from the annual Bishop's Special Christmas Offering received during December 2004 in United Methodist congregations across Indiana. A total of $43,815 was received from North Indiana Conference churches. Another $42,730 was received from South Indiana Conference. More than $5,000 was received from grants and other contributions for a total of $91,596.

One-third of the funds will go to Indiana projects, one-third will go to Advanced Specials in United States and one-third will go to Advanced Specials beyond the United States.

The committee approved that $10,000 received from the offering would be used at the discretion of Indiana Area Bishop Mike Coyner.

In Indiana, each of the two conferences independently decided how to distribute their $11,000 share for Indiana projects to children's ministries. The North Indiana Conference decided to contribute to these ministries: NIC Camp Programs $3,000, Kokomo Rescue Mission $960, NIC Children and Poverty $200, Royal Family Kids' Camp $3,000, Northwest Family Services Children's Programs $960, Charis House (Fort Wayne Rescue Mission) $960, West Central Neighborhood Ministry $960, and Anderson New Hope $960.

The South Indiana Conference decided to contribute to these ministries: SIC Division of Outdoor Ministries $5,000; Vida Nueva, c/o Metro Ministries $850; Brightwood Community Center, c/o Metro Ministries $850; Fletcher Place Community Center $850; Fourteenth and Chestnut Community Center $850; South Indiana School of Christian Mission $850; Camp Encounter/Outdoor Ministries $900; and Sisterhood's Brightwood Program $850.

Each of ten Advance Special children's ministries in the United States received $2,200. They include: Henderson Settlement, Frakes, Ky.; McCurdy Mission School, Espanola, N. Mex.; Covenant Education Center, Shiprock, N. Mex.; Red Bird School, Tuition Support, Beverly, Ky.; A Child USA (UM children's ministries); Children's Sidewalk Church School Program, San Antonio, Texas; Hillcrest-Bruce United Methodist Ministries, Ashland, Ky.; Wesley Child-Care Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Camp Ministries, Jayuya; Nome Community Center, Alaska.

Each of ten Advance Special children's ministries beyond the United States received $2,200. They include: School Hot Lunch Program (Haiti); AIDS Awareness and Care for AIDS Orphans (Kenya); Community Outreach Program for Children, India; Front Porch Orphans; Ukrainian Street Children Ministry; Ministry to Street Children, Rio de Janeiro; Ishe Anesu Project (for abandoned and runaway children), Zimbabwe; Babyfold at Old Mutare Hospital, Zimbabwe; El Elohe, Home for Children, Galeana, Mexico; and Grace Children's Hospital, Haiti.

Overhead expenses for this offering cost $15,000 and included posters, envelopes and mailings. Materials are designed by Indiana Area Communications at no additional cost.

The 2005 Bishop's Special Christmas Offering will be received in church's across Indiana this coming December. Promotional materials are scheduled to be mailed the beginning of November.

Last updated on 25 Apr 2008

Questions or comments: webmaster@inareaumc.org