PRESS RELEASE
General Council on Finance and Administration
The United Methodist Church
January 31, 2013
Twenty Conferences Pay 100% of General Church Apportioned Funds in 2012
Overall Payouts Reach 90% for the First Time Since 2001
Nashville, TN – The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) reports 20 annual conferences paid 100 percent of their general Church apportioned funds in 2012 and overall apportionment payouts reached 90 percent, the highest payout level the general Church has reached since 2001.
The conferences paying 100 percent are Alaska, Baltimore-Washington, Desert Southwest, East Ohio, Greater New Jersey, Holston, Illinois Great Rivers, Iowa, Kansas West, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Northern Illinois, Oklahoma Indian Missionary, Peninsula-Delaware, Red Bird Missionary, Tennessee, West Michigan, West Virginia, and Western Pennsylvania.
In 2011, 17 conferences gave 100 pecent to all seven general Church apportioned funds.
Moses Kumar, General Secretary for GCFA said “It is truly a blessing that we had this increase for 2012. But more importantly, the people of The United Methodist Church have come together in a way that affirms the ministries of the Church. The support of the apportioned funds is a statement that we are doing a new thing in the Church and that together we can make a difference in the lives of so many people. There are so many stories throughout the connection of annual conferences that made significant increases – and that also increases the total impact on ministry. That is a testament to the commitment of the Church for local and global ministry. Thank you.”
The Tennessee Conference reached 100 percent in 2012. Jim Allen, Director of Administration, says, “The generosity of the people in the our local churches of their gifts from God, combined with-better than-expected gains from our investments, made this possible.”
The West Ohio Conference made a significant increase in percentage paid in 2012. Bill Brownson, Treasurer and Director of Administration for the conference says, “In West Ohio we have intentionally reset our priorities and made Connectional Giving more prominent. In combination with other initiatives to better manage total expenses both for the Conference and local churches. The Conference was able to make a significant improvement in its connectional giving while continuing to equip and support local churches and clergy.”
Ten annual conferences on the 2012 list have paid 100 percent for five consecutive years or more. All five U.S. jurisdictions reported increases in remittance percentages. The North Central Jurisdiction increased from 89.76 percent in 2011 to 95.77 percent in 2012.
West Ohio increased from 65 percent in 2011 to 95 percent in 2012. Others with significant increases are California-Pacific, increasing 17 percent; Oregon-Idaho increasing 14 percent and Northwest Texas increasing 12 percent.
The General Council on Finance and Administration coordinates and administers finances, collects and tabulates the official records, and safeguards the legal interests and rights of The United Methodist Church.
www.gcfa.org