| Bishop's CornerOne
Great Hour of Sharing
By Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker
 For over 50 years the special
offering known as One great Hour of Sharing has enabled the United
Methodist Church to help those in need throughout the world. The
designated Sunday to receive the One Great Hour of Sharing offering this
year is March 10. It may be received on another day if, for some reason,
a congregation cannot receive it March 10.
This special offering provides both the
administrative and program money for the work of United Methodist
Committee on Relief (UMCOR). More than 92 cents of every dollar goes
toward programming. Less than 8 cents of every dollar goes toward
administration of UMCOR. Contrary to a common assumption, UMCOR does
not receive funding for administration from the World Service
apportionment, but it is dependent upon voluntary contributions for
its operations.
UMCOR is one of the most appreciated agencies of
the United Methodist Church. It is the agency that provides long-term
recovery for victims of disasters in the United States and around the
globe. Unfortunately, only 47 percent of all United Methodist
congregations receive this offering. Over the last two years giving to
the One Great Hour of Sharing has decreased slightly.
I believe that the United Methodists of Florida
would joyfully contribute to this agency of service in the name of
Christ if they were given the chance. I challenge us to meet the goal
of 100 percent participation by all congregations in One Great Hour of
Sharing in 2002. If every congregation in our conference would receive
this offering and encourage every one of its members to contribute the
results would be significant. If our conference, which is one of the
largest annual conferences in the denomination, greatly increased its
contribution to UMCOR, the United Methodist Church would be able to do
much more in providing relief to the most destitute human beings on
earth.
I thank those who have contributed generously to
UMCOR through emergency offerings and One Great Hour of Sharing in the
past. Last year the Florida Conference led the whole church in its
giving to the emergency offering to assist victims of the terrorist
attack in America and the refugees in Afghanistan. We can also
demonstrate the same kind of leadership this year by having 100
percent participation by congregations in receiving One Great Hour of
Sharing.
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