Robin Kilgore, Conference TreasurerDirector of Administrative Services

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2009 Funding Plan Meeting

• Robin Kilgore, Conference Treasurer/Director of
  Administrative Services
• September/October 2008

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Goals of Presentation

• Learn about church and conference finances
• Understand Mission Share Formula
• Appreciate the connectional United Methodist
  Church
• Help others in your congregation understand
  todays message
• Take helpful resources back to the local church

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Our 4 Global Goals in the United Methodist Church

• Make Disciples of Jesus Christ
• Strengthen, Develop and Renew Christian
  Congregations Communities
• Alleviate Human Suffering
• Seek Justice, Freedom and Peace

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Nebraska Strategic Shifts

• A primary focus on leadership development
• The introduction of the Common Table as an
  efficient and effective way to make strategic and
  conference business decisions
• The dissolution of a Council on Ministries, the
  sunset of all non-Disciplinary boards,
  commissions and committees, and the development
  of three strategic ministry teams.
• Taken from the 2008 Transition Team Document
  passed at the 2008 Annual Conference Session

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Definition of a local church

• Paragraph 202, The2004 Book of Discipline
• The function of the local church, under the
  guidance of the Holy Spirit, is to help people
  accept and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and
  Savior and to live their daily lives in light of
  their relationship with God. Therefore, the local
  church is to minister to persons in the community
  where the church is located, to provide
  appropriate training and nurture to all, to
  cooperate in ministry with other local churches,
  to defend Gods creation and live as an
  ecologically responsible community, and to
  participate in the worldwide mission of the
  church.

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Nebraska United Methodist Church Membership by
Year
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Nebraska United Methodist Church Funding Plan by
Year
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Nebraska United Methodist Church Funding Plan
Contribution per Member
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How do we fund our ministry work in Nebraska?

• Conference Mission Shares
• Formerly called apportionments

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What are Mission Shares?

• My churchs share in mission and ministry in
  Nebraska
• An expression of faithful stewardship
• My churchs opportunity to proportionally support
  the connectional ministries beyond the local
  church

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Mission Share Calculation

• For detailed information about the calculation
• See page 219 220 of the 2007 Conference Journal
  
• See page 59 of the 2008 Resource Book

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2009 Mission Share Formula

• Local Church Membership/Total Conference
  Membership
• Local Church Total Expense/Total Conference
  Expense
• Average these two and multiply by the approved
  Conference Funding Plan
• Ensure that the calculation doesnt increase or
  decrease by more than 10 of the prior year
  mission share amount

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2009 Conference Funding Plan

• Attempts to align funding to encourage
  disciple-making
• Illustrates the shift necessary to achieve these
  priorities
• Encourages greater connectional ties
• Promotes a more positive image for the church
• Tries to provide conservatism as churches fund it
• Keeps in mind the goal of bringing newcomers to
  Christ
• Was formed in a collaborative environment
• Tries to use your dollars more efficiently to
  transform lives

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2009 Funding Plan Structure

• Five Categories
• District and Cabinet Ministries
• General Church Ministries
• Jurisdictional Ministries
• Nebraska Strategic Priorities
• Resources and Support/Administration

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Allocation of 2009 Anticipated Costs
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District and Cabinet Ministries

• Salaries and benefits for 2 district staff
  persons
• Administrative costs for district offices
• Travel and incidental expenses for Dist. Supt.
• Equitable compensation for NE pastoral leaders
• Retired pastors assistance with health insurance
• Episcopal office assistance
• Leadership Training for Cabinet district staff

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General Church Ministries

• Episcopal Fund
• General Administrative Fund
• Interdenominational Fund
• World Service Commitment
• Africa United Methodist University
• United Methodist Black Colleges
• Ministerial Education Fund

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Jurisdictional Ministries

• Mission and Administration Fund
• Mt. Sequoyah Retreat Center
• Lydia Patterson Institute
• SMU Wesley Foundation

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Nebraska Strategic Priorities

• Hispanic Ministry, Native American Ministry,
  Mission Outreach, Higher Education, Camping
  Retreat Ministries, Youth Ministries, Archives
  History, Christian Social Witness, Laity and
  Clergy Training to name a few

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Support and Resource Ministries

• Conference Staff and travel expense
• Office and administrative (postage, paper, copy
  machine, technology, etc.)
• Annual Conference session expenses
• Building Maintenance and Repair
• Property and Liability Insurance
• Communication
• Ecumenical Resource Center

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Important Items to Remember

• All five funding plan categories should be
  fundeddont wait until yearend to fund one
  category
• Monthly payments of mission shares are encouraged
  to support all conference ministry activities
  taking place
• If your church doesnt designate a breakdown of
  mission share funds, conference staff will
  distribute equitably

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How to Give?

• Through the Annual Conference to support Mission
  Share Goals
• Through Special Sunday Offerings
• Through Conference Advance Specials
• Through General Advance Specials

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Administrative Details

• Local church treasurers-when making payments to
  the Nebraska Conference
• Two checks are preferred (one for mission share
  payments and one for the pastors health and
  pension benefits)
• One envelope can be sent containing both payments
  if you wish to save postage expense
• Thank you for not combining these into one check
  as they are different funds and different
  checking accounts.

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Example of Mission Share Letter
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Example of Monthly Statement
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Other Resources

• Review Conference website at www.umcneb.org, or
  others at www.gcfa.org,www.umcgiving.org,
  www.new.gbgm-umc.org.
• Contact the Administrative staff at
  1-800-435-6107
• Robin Kilgore, Conf Treasurer Ext 117
• Lorie Lindenmuth, Comptroller Ext 119
• Tina Watteyne, Accounting Clerk Ext 118
• Carole Otto, Benefits Administrator Ext 108
• Barb Grenemeier, Administrative Assistant Ext 114

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Stewardship Seminar

• Dr. Clif Christopher, CFRE is coming to Nebraska
• Sponsored by the Nebraska Annual Conference
• St. Marks UMC-Lincoln Tuesday, October 7
  900 -300
• First UMC-Scottsbluff Thursday, October 23
  900 300
• Registrations are being taken now, cost is 35
  per church

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Questions

• ?