United Methodist leaders agree that big changes are coming as the denomination grapples with rising church disaffiliations. But disagreements remain on how best to balance financial uncertainty with missional commitments.
The two bodies that develop The United Methodist Church’s budget agree cuts are needed, but disagreements are brewing over stewardship in a time of mounting church disaffiliations.
United Methodist general agencies are developing their spending plans for the year ahead. The ongoing fallout of COVID, high inflation rates and rising church disaffiliations are affecting finances across the denomination.
Board members of The United Methodist Church’s finance agency discussed the potential impact of rising church disaffiliations even as they celebrated an uptick in giving and the sale of the agency’s building.