FAQ about
Wider Mission
(Frequently Asked Questions)
What is "Wider Mission?"
How is this money really spent?
Is there a difference between "apportionments" and
"Wider Mission?"
How are my church’s apportionments calculated?
What happens if my church doesn’t pay all of its apportioned asking?
Is my church - or my minister – "punished" if we
don’t pay 100%?
I still have some questions about all of this. Where can I get more
answers?
Where does all the National Wider Mission money go?
Church Apportionment Data By District
What is "Wider Mission?"
The Rocky Mountain Conference is made up of 261 churches in Colorado, Utah
and Wyoming – and these churches combine resources to fund ministries
that no local church can afford to fund by itself. Some of
our Wider Mission ministries relate to the international mission of the
United Methodist Church, some relate to the conference
structures and responsibilities, some relate to support of regional ministry
settings, and some relate to special needs we define together – such
as helping to start new churches.
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Those generalities sound nice, but how is this money really
spent?
The details of the conference budget are set every year by the Council on Finance and
Administration (CF&A) – and this document is always available for review by
anyone. Approximately one-fourth of the budget is sent on to the General Church to fund an
extremely wide variety of national and international ministry needs. Another fourth is
needed to fund the difference and health insurance needs of retired
ministers who have served our conference. Another fourth is needed to pay the salaries and
office costs for the conference staff. The final fourth is used to fund conference
ministries such as new church starts, camping, prison ministries, the Sunday morning Vision,
and ethnic ministry initiatives.
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Is there a difference between "apportionments" and
"Wider Mission?"
No, these are two different names for the same thing.
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How are my church's apportionments
calculated?
The term "apportionment" is the word we use to describe the amount that each
church is asked to contribute to these Wider Mission ministries. Every year, at Annual
Conference, a petition is presented by the Council on Finance and Administration
(CF&A). This petition defines the formula that is used for the calculations of those
apportionments and must be approved by the entire Annual Conference. That formula is
currently based on two factors – the local church's
membership and the local church’s budget. Once the conference budget total is set (by
another vote at Annual Conference), the treasurer’s office applies the formula and
calculates the share that is apportioned to each of the 261 local churches.
At the 2007 Annual Conference Session in Denver, the Conference voted to
move to a "Church Tithe" method of supporting its ministries together.
Read more about it here.
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What happens if my church doesn’t pay
all of its apportioned asking?
The most significant problem is that many ministries that the conference
wanted to support will not be fully funded. Just like at the local church,
certain conference obligations must be paid in full – and at the conference level
these include retired clergy pension and health benefits, staff compensation, and
operating expenses such as lights and phone bills. When local churches fall short of
paying all that is asked of them, it is the other ministries within our conference budget
that are reduced.
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Is my church - or my minister – "punished" if
we don’t pay 100%?
No. There is no "punishment." We do keep track of
each church, and the District Superintendent does review the apportionment payment
information for all churches in each district – but that information is just one part
of the process that helps evaluate all of the clergy and ministry settings within the
conference.
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I still have some questions about all of this. Where can I get
more answers?
The Council on Finance and Administration (CF&A) is made up of lay and
clergy from around the conference, and they are always glad to respond to
questions. Check the latest Conference Journal, Leadership Directory to
find the current list of members.
In addition to these committee members, you can always contact the treasurer’s
office. Wayne Bettendorf is available at 303-733-3736, 800-536-3736 or Wayne@RMCUMC.com and is happy to hear from
you at any time.
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Where does
all the General Church Wider Mission money go?
Don't mind surfing? Try the General
Board Church Finance Link.
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