General Agencies

An offering plate is passed down the pew at Cathedral of the Rockies, a United Methodist church in Boise, Idaho. The General Council on Finance and Administration board surveyed U.S. conference treasurers to find out what impact potential church disaffiliations and church closures will have on the apportionment formula over the next four years. 2018 file photo by Mary Kienzle, United Methodist Communications.

Estimating financial impact of church exits

United Methodist financial leaders voted on agencies’ 2021 budgets at the same time they looked at the costs of a potential church split and a proposal to reduce bishops.

General Church

United Methodist missionary Tawanda Chandiwana (left foreground) is embraced by Thomas Kemper, head of the Board of Global Ministries, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines, on July 1, 2018, after Chandiwana was released from a detention center and allowed to leave the country. 2018 file photo courtesy of Thomas Kemper, Global Ministries.

Finding strength in the worldwide church family

After a decade of service, Thomas Kemper leaves the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries with stronger international ties.

General Church

Global Mission Fellow Bellarmee Milosi gives a tutoring session for children in Tramo, Philippines, as part of the Kapatiran-Kaunlaran Foundation Inc. With the current budget constraints, expansion of this successful young adult ministry is unlikely. 2018 file photo courtesy of Global Ministries.

Church agencies cope with new realities

The changing landscape caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty over the denomination’s future has created challenges for United Methodist agencies.

General Church

The board of the General Council on Finance and Administration heard updates on how the spread of COVID-19 has strained finances and increased online worship. Offering box image by Jeff Jacobs, courtesy of Pixabay; coronavirus image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Board gets update on giving, online worship

The board of the United Methodist finance agency reviewed the pandemic’s financial fallout and advice on counting online worship attendance.

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