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Giving

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.”
General Church
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
Elizabeth Knotts collects the offering at New Hope Valley United Methodist Church in Valley Furnace, W.Va., in 2015. Churches are dealing with tight finances in this time of suspended worship and shuttered businesses because of COVID-19. Still, giving continues. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Pandemic presents challenge to church giving
Churches still must collect an offering even when social distancing means they can’t pass the plate. But church leaders also want to be sensitive to the faithful’s own economic needs.
General Church
Moses Kumar discusses the denomination’s budget at the 2020 Pre-General Conference Briefing in January in Nashville, Tenn. Kumar, the top executive of the General Council on Finance and Administration, helped lead a Feb. 21 online meeting dealing with the denomination’s financial challenges. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Looking at financial impact of GC2020 plans
No matter what happens at General Conference, United Methodist leaders predict a loss of funding. That makes planning a budget especially tough.

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