United Methodists in Mission
As United Methodists, we accept and affirm that the primary task of our church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ; to proclaim the gospel, the good news; and to seek and to welcome and gather people of faith into the body of Christ. When one joins the United Methodist congregation, one becomes a member of the total United Methodist connection. We define that connection as a network of interdependent and interrelated relationships among persons in groups at the local and regional, national and international levels. As members, we promise God and our congregation that we will uphold the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service. And that church is the local church, or the district, or the annual conference or even the general church.
Our promise to God and the church opens up to us the vast ministry that awaits those who seek the fields ripe for harvest. I Corinthians, the 12th chapter, the 12th verse, states that “the body is a unit. Though it is made up of many parts and though all of its parts are many, they form one body. Likewise, though we are many members, we are one body.”
Even though United Methodists have over 8 million lay members, we are one body. We have 43,000 clergy members, but we are still one body. Among our members are consecrated diaconal ministers and preparatory members—we are still one body. We are organized in local churches and pastoral charges, districts, annual conferences, and episcopal areas, but we are one body. We are located all over the world through central conferences and over 1 million lay persons around the world, but we are one body. We are the Body of Christ called United Methodists, people who send missionaries, and ourselves, into the world, to live as servants for Christ. We are the Body of Christ who minister in more than 100 United Methodist colleges and universities, as well as support 13 theological schools to educate our pastors. We are the Body of Christ that bears each others’ burdens through reaching out in times of need and disaster. We are the Body of Christ connected together. We do more than express a concern for the worker, the sick, and the poor. We do more than express a concern for the poor, the aging, the impaired, and the oppressed. We, the Body of Christ, participate together. We struggle together to help those in need. This is important to our faith.
Our Wesleyan Heritage
John Wesley’s theology of Christian stewardship is perhaps best summarized in his admonition to the people called Methodist: “Earn all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can.” Wesley encouraged Methodists to work with diligence and discipline, making wise use of the gifts and resources entrusted to them by God.
How are we doing?
We are behind in apportionment payments for this year. The Treasurer plans on making another payment soon, but based on our last giving statement at the end of April, we’ve only paid 10% of our apportionments for the year! Below, you can see the amounts we owe for each fund. If you’d like to designate giving to one or more of these, or to apportionments in general, you can do so on your giving envelope or by contacting the church office.
| Fund | Amount Due |
| World Service | $2,117 |
| Ministerial Education Fund | $663 |
| Episcopal Fund | $850 |
| Black College Fund | $306 |
| General Administration Fund | $261 |
| Africa University Fund | $69 |
| Interdenominational Coop. Fund | $9 |
| Jurisdictional Conference Fund | $177 |
| Congregational Excellence | $2,240 |
| Pastoral Excellence | $622 |
| Board of Ordained Ministry | $303 |
| Next Generation | $1,882 |
| Mission, Service, & Justice Ministries | $683 |
| Connectional Ministries | $1,670 |
| Conference Administration | $1,490 |
| Clergy Support Fund | $2,029 |
| District Superintendents Fund | $2,200 |
| District Apportionments | $1,167 |
| Mozambique Initiative | $450 |