UMC General Conference “reduced our overall general Church budget by more than 40%” and that Graves’ remarks were “part of an earnest conversation between board members about anticipated funding requests.”
A bishop of the United Methodist Church has sounded the alarm on the denomination’s current funding issues, declaring that its “financial house is on fire.”
The board of the UMC General Council on Finance and Administration held its final gathering for the year last week to discuss various funding matters. GCFA Board President Bishop David Graves told those gathered that the mainline Protestant denomination is facing major financial challenges.
“The church’s financial house is on fire,” said Graves, as quoted by United Methodist News. “My intent is not to create fear but to address the reality with honesty and urgency.”
“When a house is on fire, the first thing you do is focus on what matters most. For us, that is people, mission and ministry. … That means every church and conference doing its part through apportionment giving — not because of obligation alone, but because ministry depends on it.”
The Christian Post reached out to the United Methodist Church General Council on Finance and Administration for more information, with a spokesperson directing CP to the UM News report.
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