OKLAHOMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
TREASURY ¶ NOTES
April 6, 2010
Editor: Brian Bakeman, 1501 NW 24th St, Oklahoma City OK 73106
Phone: (405) 530-2067; Email: bbakeman@okumc.org; Website: www.okumc.org
CONTENTS
Native American Ministries Sunday
UM Student Loans
Ministry Protection Minute
New FCC Rules
New Local Church and Conference Agency
Audit Forms
Connectional Giving
Native American Ministries Sunday
Sunday, April 18, 2010 has been set aside as Native American Ministries Sunday. This special offering provides scholarships for United Methodist Native American seminarians. Since we work with the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference so closely, this offering benefits so many Oklahomans. A portion of the offering stays here in Oklahoma to help assist OIMC lay leaders in attending training workshops.
UM Student Loans
In a recent article from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, it was stated that there has been a 13% decline in gifts to Student Day. Angella Current-Felder, executive director of the Office of Loans and Scholarships stated that unless significant donations were made online before June 1, the number of scholarships will drop this year. There are a lot of Oklahoma students who are depending on scholarships from the GBHEM.
Ministry Protection Minute
By Rick Carlin
Spring in Oklahoma brings new growth on trees and plants, color to the landscape, more sunshine and numerous outdoor activities. Spring in Oklahoma also brings wind, rain, hail, lightning and tornadoes and they can strike at any time.
You need to be as prepared as possible for these inevitabilities by making sure your people and church will be safe. Some quick and easy steps to take include:
· Have an emergency plan for your church and communicate it to the leadership and staff.
· Have a safety and security ministry for church and/or community disasters
· Run drills (fire, tornado, etc.)
· Inspect the roof on all of your buildings
· Make sure gutter and downspouts are clear of debris
· Check drainage around all of your buildings
· Clear grounds and parking lots of debris
· Trim trees if necessary
· Make sure portable buildings and trailers are secure
· Photograph or videotape the inventoried contents of your buildings
· Back up critical computer data and store the backup offsite
In the event you have a claim please remember that PACT has established a 24 hour, 7 day a week claim phone number - 1-877-886-7228. You may also turn in your claim online at www.zurichna.com.
New FCC Rules
According to a recent article in the Christian Post, the Federal Communications Commission is seeking to increase the band width that will affect the use of wireless microphones being used in churches. Currently, the FCC is enforcing its new rule that requires anyone using a wireless microphone that operates in the 700 MHz band to stop operating the devices no later than June 12th. If your church is using wireless microphones, I would encourage you to check out the frequency you are using and how these changes will affect you.
New Local Church and Conference Agency
Audit Forms
The Conference Audit Review Committee under the leadership of the Rev. Connie Gibson has approved a new audit form to be used for your 2009 audit.
Now is the time to be working on your audit while the information is fresh on your mind. All audits are due into your district office by August 1st. Please remember that before you send your audit in, it must be approved by your Finance Committee and Administrative Council. The Supplement must also be completed and attached to the audit form when turning the form in.
One last point, if your church received funds from the Conference office, please be sure to send a copy to the Treasurer’s office as well.
Connectional Giving
What a gorgeous day Easter Sunday was as we celebrate a risen Lord! I trust each of you felt energized for the mission of the church to reach out to the unchurched and to transform lives.
And with that sense of energy, I am excited to say that giving increased last month. Giving to apportionments through March increased to $2,903,644 or 18.16% of our annual total compared to our five year average of 18.46%. This is the first time since 2008 that we have approached our average giving levels.
We continue to collect funds for UMCOR which now totals $395,056. This out pouring of support for those who have been tragically affected by the numerous earthquakes is really exciting. We also received $13,005 in the special offering for One Great Hour of Sharing which goes to support the administrative costs of UMCOR. Thank you for your generous support for these causes.
In a recent article from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, Cynthia Woolever reported that the top five reasons people gave to their congregations were:
1. Gave out of a sense of gratitude for God’s love and goodness.
2. Gave to support God’s work in the world.
3. Gave out of a sense of duty.
4. Gave because the Bible instructs us to support our congregation.
5. Gave out of a sense of obligation.
How are you teaching your congregation to give? Giving is something that must be taught and we can never assume that everyone knows how to give.
