Connectional Giving
When I think about the mission of the United Methodist Church of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, I get excited. Our connectional structure combines with Wesleyan theology to make a wonderful apparatus for God’s people to participate in the building of His Kingdom here on earth. Our connectional structure works in a reciprocal manner where money plays a major role. Every local church is asked to participate in the shared ministry of apportionments, or what we in the West Michigan Conference call Ministry Shares.
Through participation in Ministry Shares, the General church is funded including the World Service Fund, our Jurisdiction is funded, the Annual Conference is funded along with our Districts. All of those entities are connected and the local church makes it happen. In my humble opinion, the local church is the core of who we are as United Methodists.
As mentioned earlier, our connectional structure works in a reciprocal manner. Ministry Shares that are given by a local church can return in numerous ways. A lesson I learned from the school-of-hard-knocks is that the system works to your benefit, but only if you use the opportunities available. What I mean is throughout our connectional system there are people and resources available to enable the local church “to be all they can be.” As an old U.S. Army guy, I could not resist stating it that way. In other words, those people and resources can assist local churches to realize their full potential. Some of the ways this happens include: training for local church leaders and committees, consultations on a variety of subjects, evangelism strategies, small group implementation, outreach ministry models, missions opportunities, and the latest trends for vitality and relevancy.
The way I see it, we as United Methodists can carry out the biblical mandate of ask, seek, and knock given to us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of Matthew 7:7-8 He says, “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (NRSV) What does your church need to ask for? What is your congregation seeking? Could the resources be found by contacting your District office or perhaps a Conference committee?
For me, that’s why the giving of Ministry Shares is very important. It should be the first benevolent giving of every local church. It enables us to be God’s vessels to transform the world in our local communities and around the globe. Jesus said in the Gospel of Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” (NRSV) We are not alone in doing it. As part of a connection, we can do more together than any one of us can do alone. That’s good news!
By: Neil Davis On 1/30/2012
Topics:
DS Speaks