| Giving rises despite hard times
Florida Conference churches give more to
apportionments and special causes, including more than half a million
dollars for victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.
By Michael Wacht
LAKELAND — The Florida Conference has given
$234,559 more in general church apportionments through three quarters
of 2001 than over the same period last year, a larger increase than
any other conference in the United States.
“I think it is something to be proud of,”
said Dr. Randy Casey-Rutland, the conference’s treasurer, adding the
increased giving is more significant because “the Florida Conference
has the largest [general church] apportionment in the connection by a
wide margin.”
Casey-Rutland said one reason the increase is
good news is the general church has asked for more money from churches
this year.
According to a report from the General Council
on Finance and Administration (GCFA), the church’s 2001 budget
reflects a 4.4 percent increase over 2000. A major portion of that
increase is due to funding the Igniting Ministry media campaign.
Giving among all conferences is up almost 1 percent, and Florida
Conference giving is up 0.5 percent.
Florida’s increase puts the conference at more
than 50 percent of its total general church giving by the end of the
third quarter. It’s the highest percent the conference has paid in
three years.
Casey-Rutland said the increase reflects an
improved attitude in local churches toward the general church. The
conference passes the money given by local churches directly to the
general church, so the increase is based entirely on decisions made in
local churches.
“Apportionment or connectional giving is a
very good indicator about how people feel about their church family,”
he said. “When people are excited about their local church, the
local church is healthier, and that includes financially. The same is
true at the conference and general church levels. I think it says we’re
doing a better job taking seriously the challenges in front of us.”
Casey-Rutland is also encouraged by local
churches’ second-mile giving. “The exciting thing is what churches
do above and beyond apportionments,” he said. “Churches have given
more than $11 million to district, conference and general
apportionments through Sept. 30. They gave another $2 million in
special giving…to many dozen good causes around the world.”
One of those causes is the United Methodist
Committee on Relief’s “Love in the Midst of Tragedy” fund for
victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. Through the end of October, Florida
churches have given more than $671,000 to the fund.
Casey-Rutland says he’s “cautiously
optimistic” about next year’s giving. Although economists are
predicting a downturn, Casey-Rutland says that prediction will not
necessarily apply to church giving. “Giving tends not to track
neatly with the economy,” he said. “People give out of what they
believe in, rather than simply out of economic ability.”
He said the downturn in the stock market, high
unemployment and other negative economic factors do have a negative
impact on conference finances and charitable giving, but they also
inspire people’s generosity.
“People have given more in times of greatest
need,” Casey-Rutland said. “The negatives are offset by giving
inspired by the need people see.”
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