GCFA

The Kern Building, owned by Discipleship Ministries and the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministries since 1950, stands like a beacon in Nashville, Tenn. The two agencies sold the building to Vanderbilt University on July 15. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Agencies sell jointly owned building

Discipleship Ministries and the United Methodist Board of Higher Education are among the most recent agencies to consolidate space following the upheavals of COVID-19.

General Agencies

During a June 25 online meeting, the General Council on Finance and Administration board voted to update local-church statistical forms to include the option of non-binary under the category of gender. This change only affects the U.S. Excerpt of the current church statistical form highlighted for emphasis by UM News.

Church to start counting non-binary members

The board of The United Methodist Church’s finance agency approved adding the term “non-binary” alongside “male” and “female” on church statistical forms. The change only affects U.S. congregations.

General Church

With giving to denomination-wide ministries varying widely, collections seem to indicate conferences are paying at the rates in the proposed general church budget heading to General Conference next year. However, with General Conference delayed, that proposed budget is not in effect. Image by Steve Buissinne, courtesy of Pixabay.

Finance board gets update on giving, reserves

U.S. giving to United Methodist ministries was lower in early 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. However, collection rates varied widely among church funds.

General Agencies

Spring flowers bloom in a farm field near Ashland City, Tenn., in 2020. Agencies of The United Methodist Church are committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a goal announced on Earth Day. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Agencies set greenhouse gas emissions goal

Most United Methodist general agencies are committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a goal announced on Earth Day.

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