Apportionments - A congregation’s “first benevolent responsibility”

As the Book of Discipline states, the full payment of the World Service Fund 

is each congregation’s “first benevolent responsibility.” (¶ 812)

Trying to explain apportionments is like having a family conversation on the budget when times are hard.   It is not easy and everyone has an opinion on where and how funds should be applied.   For this reason, this article seeks to simplify matters so most can understand - at the risk of over simplifying some details.   All critiques are welcomed. 

The key is that apportionments must be based on generosity that come from our hearts

 -- it signifies our commitment and integrity as United Methodist. 

We begin by using UMCOR as the most common 'ministry' that is recognized by most.

On a recent facebook post, a Bethany church leader responded that UMCOR is not funded by apportionments, Bethany does not contribute to UMCOR Sunday and that an independent church may find "...support of this excellent ministry!". 

We went to AskUMC to get clarification.  We received a response and some resources to help. 

1. Apportionments DO fund United Methodist Ministries - including UMCOR
1. Apportionment - fund and support UMCOR operations  via the UMC Committee On Relief. 
   
   
2. The UMC Book of Discipline calls for local churches to collect funds each year through the UMCOR Sunday offering. 
• Bethany has not contributed on UMCOR Sunday due to its already "independence culture". 
  
  
3. UMCOR is a part of Global Ministries, 
• "Global Ministries includes the United Methodist Committee on Relief, or UMCOR, providing nonsectarian disaster response and sustainable development worldwide". 
• The broader understanding is that "most" UMC ministries are in connection with partners.   
• Most Global ministries partners with local church, conferences and other agencies. 
• Take time to understand how wide the breath of  Global Ministries is. 

The statement that an independent church would now change it's culture remains to be seen.  Here  we need to be very honest to be good stewards of God's Will - an independent Bethany will most definitely fall further away from supporting "any" of the United Methodist Ministries. 

It is for these reason that we say that the independent church option will most likely

1. be a step back from our "first benevolent responsibility", 
2. the notion of a "zero apportionment" is folly in the eyes of our responsibility, and
3. the support of UMC missions is so vital to God's work as part of the United Methodist connectional network - we can not take such risks. 

Reports and Reports: 

1. Budget 2017-2020: financial commitment booklet outlining how the General Church budget 
   This is allocated over the now 8 years of this “quadrennium.” The budgeted amounts have not changed because GCFA has no authority to alter the budget set by the General Conference. What can and does change (and reduces what actually goes to the various entities named in the budget) is the degree to which revenues match or do not match the projected budget for each year.
2. Budget Tracking Reports : receipts against budget over time: LINK
3. This resource is now a bit out of date, but not massively: 2019 UMC Member Digest - Partners Generosity
4.  A Theology of United Methodist Giving Apportionments - Together We Do More!

AskUMC - I hope this is helpful.

Understanding Where/How are apportionments used:

Behind  the UMC apportionments is EXPERIENCE!   You do NOT build as wide and impactful network as the UMC connectional network by a few (3) churches.   The independence option will ensure Bethany has a smaller impact in our community and world. 

UMCOR was designed so that 100 percent of all donations go directly to the intended projects. 

- This goal was achieved by instituting the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) donation. 

- Excess funds received from OGHS are directed to UMCOR's most urgent or least funded projects. 

- Every dollar received in response to emergency appeals is spent on direct relief.

You have too be an accountant to look thru the above resources.   Within the Budget report  is this explanation on how money flows.  

Simply within the budget there is a finance organization (GCFA) and a stewardship group (CT) and a group providing reports and promotions. 

World Service Fixed Charges

General Council on Finance and Administration (“GCFA”). 

• GCFA is accountable to The United Methodist Church through the General Conference for
• receiving funds, 
• disbursing funds, and 
• reporting all general funds. (¶ 806) 

This line item is an estimate of the World Service Fund’s share of GCFA’s expenses for the quadrennium.

The Connectional Table (“CT”). 

• As part of the total mission of the Church, 
• CT facilitates the Church’s program life as determined by the General Conference. 
• Its task is to discern and articulate the vision for the church and 
• the stewardship of the mission, ministries, and resources of The United Methodist Church. (¶ 904)

Interpretation Resources. 

• Along with producing materials to interpret United Methodism’s connectional funds, 
• the Connectional Giving Team of United Methodist Communications (“UMCom”) uses money from this section of the budget for
•  “Promotion of Giving,” a joint effort of UMCom, GCFA, and the General Board of Discipleship (“GBOD”). 
• The “Promotion of Giving” goal is to develop comprehensive financial stewardship tools, leading to improved financial support of ministry at all levels of the connection. 
• “Promotion of Giving” resources are financed through the World Service Fund.

History of UMCOR and UMC Committee on Relief

The following is provided in hopes of understanding how apportionments fuel the missions of the United Methodist.     The importance of connectional network can not be underscored.   UMC has 200+ years of balancing funds through groups to ensure we impact the world as Jesus did. 

Under its original name, The Methodist Committee on Overseas Relief (MCOR) was founded in 1940 by the Bishop Herbert Welch in response to displaced and vulnerable populations in the wake of World War II. In his address at the General Conference that year, Bishop Welch stated that MCOR would serve as a “voice of conscience among Methodists to act in the relief of human suffering without distinction of race, color, or creed.” This mandate remains true to this day. The organization’s name was legally changed to The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) at the 1972 General Conference.

As the humanitarian relief and development arm of The United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Committee on Relief – UMCOR – assists United Methodists and churches to become involved globally in direct ministry to persons in need. UMCOR comes alongside those who suffer from natural or human-caused disasters – famine, hurricane, war, flood, fire or other events—to alleviate suffering and serve as a source of help and hope for the vulnerable. UMCOR provides relief, response and long-term recovery grants when events overwhelm a community’s ability to recover on their own. UMCOR also provides technical support and training for partners to address emerging and ongoing issues related to disaster relief, recovery, and long-term health and development.

Apportionment Analysis - Ohio Conference