GCFA

The United Methodist Church is feeling the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as businesses have closed their doors and churches have suspended in-person worship, due to the health guidelines. Mask image by panos13121, courtesy of Pixabay; church doors photo by Steven Adair, courtesy of United Methodist Communications; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Collection rates plunge as COVID-19 rises

Giving to general church ministries plummeted in April as the denomination focused on slowing the disease and supporting local churches.

Local Church

Churches closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak still need to care for their buildings. Jeff Koch, president and chief executive officer of United Methodist Insurance, offers advice on reducing the unusual property risks presented by coronavirus-related shutdowns. 2018 file photo by Jan Snider, United Methodist Communications.

Keeping church property safe amid closures

United Methodist Insurance offers five tips to help keep people and property safe at a time church buildings are largely unoccupied.

General Church

Rick King, chief financial officer of The United Methodist Church’s finance agency, speaks during a board meeting in March 2020 at Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville, Tenn. The agency is applying for a small-business loan under the U.S. CARES Act. File photo by Kathleen Barry, UM News.

Church agencies get go-ahead to seek US loans

The General Council on Finance and Administration board gave approval for the finance agency and others to apply for small-business loans under the U.S. CARES Act.

General Church

Bishop Sally Dyck presides over a discussion of the church budget during the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. With the next General Conference delayed until 2021, the board of the denomination’s finance agency decided it had no choice but to continue with the apportionment formula approved in 2016. File photo by Maile Bradfield, UM News.

Wrestling with budget after GC2020 postponed

Finance leaders decided they had no choice but to extend the 2016 General Conference’s budget directives. But they also recognize the financial challenges caused by COVID-19.

Sign up for our newsletter!

umnews-subscriptions