Giving

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

More than seven months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial outlook for conferences is decidedly mixed. But even with reduced giving, conference treasurers are saying the situation is not as dire as it appeared in the spring. Photo by Kathryn Price, United Methodist Communications; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Conferences persevere under financial strain

United Methodist conferences are offering churches relief and finding ways to still minister amid pandemic-caused hardships.

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.

Local Church

While many United Methodist churches have seen giving drop since the COVID-19 pandemic suspended in-person worship, they also report resilience in the crisis. Some churches even report an increase in giving to go along alongside an increase in attendance through online worship. Photos: church by Steven Kyle Adair, clouds by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications; coins by Kevin Schneider, Pixabay; illustration by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Local churches show resilience in crisis

Three months into pandemic-related restrictions, many U.S. United Methodist churches are more optimistic about their finances and see hope for the “new normal.”

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