March 14, 2003

Edition

LAKELAND — The Florida Conference had the second largest dollar increase in general church apportionments paid in 2002 over 2001, but paid less of its total in 2002 than in 2001, according to the General Commission on Finance and Administration (GCFA). GCFA released its year-end financial commitment report for 2002 last month.

Florida Conference churches gave nearly $4.5 million to the general church in 2002, $222,227 more than 2001, but less than 80 percent of what the general church asked in 2002. The previous year, Florida churches gave nearly 81 percent of the askings.

Florida had the second largest dollar increase in the United States and the largest dollar increase in the Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ). Florida’s increase was as large as the combined decreases of six other SEJ conferences.

All United States United Methodist churches gave more than $113 million, or 88.5 percent of nearly $128 million, in apportionments. That was a 1.4 percent decrease from nearly $115 million paid in 2001.

Sandra Kelley Lackore, GCFA’s general secretary and treasurer, said many annual conferences and agencies reported financial struggles caused by declining investment income, escalating health insurance costs, unemployment and drought conditions.

“Our annual conferences, local churches and agencies have worked diligently in the midst of these challenges,” Lackore said. “This is a remarkable demonstration of the faithfulness of our connection.”

ORLANDO — Edgewater United Methodist Church in Port Charlotte received national recognition for its welcoming skills when United Methodist Communications named it a Welcoming Congregation last month. The Florida Conference now has 12 Welcoming Congregations.

The national Welcoming Congregations recognition is part of the Igniting Ministry Planning Kit and is one of many ways churches can measure and improve their welcoming skills, according to Deann Bogle, a project associate with UMCom’s Igniting Ministry office who heads the Welcoming Congregations effort.

A 38-item worksheet spells out many of the ways a congregation can be welcoming. Each item has a different value between one and 50, and congregations must achieve 100 points to qualify for the recognition. Qualifying churches receive a plaque and are tagged as Welcoming Congregations in Igniting Ministry’s Find-a-Church database.

Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker and the Florida Conference Igniting Ministry design team have set a goal for every congregation in the Florida Conference to become a Welcoming Congregation. For more information on Welcoming Congregations recognition and the Florida Conference goal, visit http://www.flumc.org/ignitingministry. 

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© 2002 Florida United Methodist Review Online