| Churches shift giving to required funds
Florida United Methodist churches are giving
less to the general connection as they seek to pay required askings.
By Michael Wacht
LAKELAND — Florida Conference churches are
slightly ahead of last year’s connectional giving during the first
six months of this year, according to Dr. Randy Casey-Rutland,
conference treasurer. At the same time churches are more than $31,000
behind last year in their giving to the General Church.
Last year the Florida Conference led all United
States conferences in the increase of giving to the General Church
funds, including World Service, Africa University, Black College,
Episcopal, and General Administration. This year, Florida ranks in the
bottom 30 percent in its giving.
“Our apportionments fund the ministry, mission
and outreach of the United Methodist Church in Florida and throughout
the world,” Casey-Rutland said. “When our giving decreases, the
ability of the church to do things to benefit people throughout the
world diminishes. It diminishes our ability to spread the gospel.”
Casey-Rutland says the decrease in giving to the
connection is caused by a shift in giving to funds that are required
to be paid in full by the United Methodist Book of Discipline or the
Florida Conference bylaws. Two of those funds, clergy support and the
Episcopal Fund, have received the highest level of giving from Florida
churches. As of June 30 they were paid at 50 percent and 42 percent
respectively.
The Ministerial Education Fund (MEF) has
received the lowest level of giving, with churches paying less than 29
percent of this year’s goal. The MEF provides funds for continuing
education for clergy, scholarships for seminary students and support
for United Methodist seminaries.
Casey-Rutland said Florida’s decreased giving
has a significant negative impact on the general church. “The
Florida Conference has the largest share of connectional church
apportionments than any other conference in the connection,” he
said. “Churches in Florida are collectively the wealthiest in the
connection. Unto whom much is given, much will be expected.”
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