Ministry Protection Minute

By Rick Carlin

I would like to issue an update on the status of the Oklahoma Annual Conference Insurance Plan renewal for January 1, 2009. This includes the Property, General Liability, Workers Compensation, Automobile, Boiler, Directors and Officers/Employment Practices Liability and Umbrella coverages.

The Conference’s renewal premiums were late in arriving to our office this year and came in higher than expected; however, after numerous emails and phone calls I believe we now have those renewal premiums for the Conference at an acceptable increase. We knew there would be some increase due to frequency and severity of property claims over the past three years.

The overall premium allocation increase to the local church is averaging around 6%. Some churches will be higher and some churches will be lower depending on their specific coverages. The local church will be receiving the renewal information (invoice, auto ID cards, certificates of insurance, etc.) within the first two weeks of January.

Please note that you DO have coverage and it is effective January 1, 2009. We are working as rapidly as we can to get the renewal information out to each church. The coverage booklets will be sent in a separate mailing in the month of January. Please call my office if you have any questions

1-800-460-5678 and thank you for your patience.

Important 2009 Deadlines

January 9^th – last day for receiving apportionment payments in the Conference office (if mailing checks in please use our street address instead of the PO Box number as it will get here faster)

January 16^th – deadline for submitting 2010 Conference budget proposals to the Treasurer’s office.

January 23^rd – deadline for completing local church end-of-year Statistical Reports for District Offices.

The end of year reports are now available online. Go to the conference web site www.okumc.org and click on “Church Log In”. Once you are logged in, you will see the link “Click here to access your year end statistical report”.

Here are just a couple of reminders. First, on line 64, please show all of the pastor’s taxable wages which includes any money paid to the pastor for special gifts, weddings and funerals paid by the church (the same number that will appear on their W-2) plus the amounts from their cafeteria plan and any amounts paid to UMPIP for the pastor.

Second, please be sure to show any funds used for repairs or replacement to the church or parsonage or equipment on line 74 and not on line 72.

If you have any questions, please call or send me an email at bbakeman@okumc.org.

The 2009 Contribution Forms are Available

The new 2009 Contribution Form is now available at the Conference web site at http://www.okumc.org/page.asp?PKValue=916 and can be saved to your computer to make it easy to complete through out the year. Once you have made your last 2008 contribution, please be sure to throw out any hard copies you have and delete your saved copy on your computer so that you don’t accidently send an old copy to the conference office.

IRS Announces 2009 Mileage rates

Effective January 1, 2009, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, or pickup have dropped from their current level with the drop in gas prices and will be as follows:

55 cents per mile for business miles driven

24 cents per mile for medical or moving purposes

14 cents per mile driven in service of a charitable organization

I frequently receive phone calls from persons asking why the charitable rate has not increased in years and the simple answer is that the rate is set by Congress and they have not addressed that issue. The other two rates are set by the IRS where they have the flexibility to make changes as they occur.

2009 Local Church Leaders Workshops

The schedule for the Workshops has been published and once again I have asked Brenda Reed and Phil Greenwalt to help me present the workshops for finance at every location this year.

This year we will focus on any changes in the new 2009 Guidelines and the important role that financial stewardship plays in your local church’s strategic plan. As always, there will be plenty of time available for you to ask the questions you have been dying to ask all year long. I always look forward to seeing everyone and meeting the new financial leaders in our churches.

The schedule is as follows:

January 31^st – Woodward First UMC

January 17^th – Altus First UMC and OKC, St. Luke’s UMC

January 18^th – Wagoner UMC

January 24^th – Tulsa, Boston Ave. UMC

January 25^th – Enid First UMC, and Lawton Centenary UMC

January 31^st – Claremore UMC

February 7^th – Ardmore First UMC and Stillwater First UMC

February 8^th – McAlester First UMC

Amazing Faithfulness

It will be another week before we know how giving for December will play out, but from the phone calls and conversations that I have had the past couple of weeks with pastors, finance chairs, and treasurers, I just want to say thank you for your faithfulness to the ministry and mission of the church across our state.

In the midst of difficult times in the lives of so many people, the church still stands for those who are struggling and who need to be touched by the loving hand of God. Thank you, everyone, for being the church.