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A Boost To Regain The Balance
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November
22, 2002
Edition
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Churches experience financial feast or famine
As the Florida Conference Council on Finance and Administration and treasurer's office begin preparing for a potential long economic slump, Florida Conference churches are finding themselves either enjoying a great deal of financial blessing or having a difficult time making ends meet.
Nearly 30 churches responded to an informal survey conducted by e-mail last month that asked about the current state of church finances, the reason for the growth or decline, and the impact finances were having on the ministry and mission of the church.
More than half of the churches responded that 2002 has been a good year for them financially. Several said it has been the best year ever.
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United Methodists see split election outcome
In the past two years, delegates to the Florida Annual Conference event have approved resolutions calling for the elimination of environmental tobacco smoke and capital punishment. This year, Florida voters found common ground with United Methodists on the issue of second-hand smoke, but a majority voted in opposition to the church's stance on the death penalty.
Voters in Florida approved a constitutional amendment Nov. 5 that prohibits "tobacco smoking in enclosed indoor workplaces" by a margin of 71 percent to 29 percent. By a similar margin, Floridians supported an amendment to the state constitution that "expressly authorizes the death penalty for capital crimes and…changes the prohibition against 'cruel or unusual punishment.'
" Full Story
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Phone survey garners unexpected results
Covenant United Methodist Church in Port Orange has welcomed numerous visitors during the past month through use of a short, automated telephone survey that engages a person's spiritual interests without proselytizing or pressuring.
Seventeen of 217 individuals who responded to the full survey have attended the church at least once, with some repeatedly coming back and bringing other visitors.
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Russian church hopes for conference relationship
A group of Christians from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union are gathering in Venice and striving to become the second official United Methodist Russian mission in the United States.
Grace United Methodist Church is currently serving as host to the Slavic Christian Fellowship, a congregation of about 120 people who reside in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Worship, study and fellowship take place exclusively in Russian.
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Shout gets Neighbors' Attention
Photo by Dave Sippel
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LEESBURG -- More than 650 Florida Conference youth converged on the Life Enrichment Center and Warren W. Willis Youth Camp here for three days of fellowship, music, prayer and spiritual growth.
The annual CrossTrainers spiritual life event Nov. 8-10 featured ShoutFest '02, a traveling festival featuring seven Christian bands and inflatable games. The theme for ShoutFest was "Let the Walls Fall Down," based on the battle of Jericho, and was intended as a " 'cry out to God' to change us and the world around us," according to the festival's Web site.
The cry caught the attention of residents near the camp, who called the police and asked the event be cited for breaking the peace. Mike Standifer, director of the conference's Youth Ministry office, said there were no legal consequences and the police officer responding to the call was delighted at what was being done for the youth.
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