The apportionment system
The United Methodist Church funds conference and denomintation-wide initiatives, educational systems, evangelism and relief efforts through a number of methods. The most prominent is the apportionment system, whereby each church is allocated a donation that represents its share (or portion) of the funding required for these programs. The individual church sends these donation to the Conference level. In turn, the Conference has been given an apportioned requirement for funding denominational-level programs and sends funds to the Denomination.
Trinity United Methodist Church apportionment
Trinity UMC's apportionment from the Northern Illinois Conference for 2005 was $93,000, or 16% of its operating budget.
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Trinity United Methodist Church apportionment 2005
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Northern Illinois Conference allocaton of apportionment funds
The Northern Illinois Conference adjusts its spending plans at Annual Conference each year. For 2005, the programs receiving funds were:
- Leadership and Development ($1.8M)
The Northern Illinois Conference will further develop systems to identify, recruit, train, support and evaluate leaders, with particular attention directed to youths and young adults. Recruitment of clergy, especially among racial/ethnic minorities, also is essential to our mission and ministry and must be emphasized.
- Reconnecting the Connection (1.17M)
The Northern Illinois Conference must strive to repair our disunities and strengthen our connection, our "vital web of interactive relationships" (Book of Discipline, Para. 109) within our cultural, ethnic and theological diversity. We will provide opportunities for dialogue around our rich Wesleyan heritage and explicitly claim and clearly communicate our identy as the "people called Methodists."
- Developing and Redeveloping the Church (1.58M)
The Northern Illinois Conference must continue to provide direction and resources (financial, human and spiritual) for new church development and the redevelopment of existing congregations. We affirm our commitment to the General Church priorities of the National Plan for Hispanic Ministries and Strengthening the Black Church.
- Conference Administration (.63M)
- Mission and Ministry Fund (.41M)
- General Church Apportionment (2.02M)
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Northern Illinois Conference funding allocations 2005
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Denominational allocation of apportionment funds
The United Methodist Church adjusts its spending plans at General Conference every four years. Budgets are quadrenial. General categories for the 2004-2007 quadrenium are:
- World Service Fund (53%)
The World Service Fund is the heart of our church’s ministry together. Through this Fund each of us becomes a partner with the church’s agencies to be in mission and ministry at home and around the world. The effects of World Service ministry are making a difference across the globe.
- Ministerial Education Fund (18%)
Significant support is provided for the thirteen United Methodist seminaries in the United States and global initiatives through the GBHEM, as well as local pastor courses of study, continuing education, and other programs that strengthen the ministry of every local church.
- Episcopal Fund (14%)
The Episcopal Fund provides for the salary and expenses of effective bishops from the date of their consecration and for the support of retired bishops and surviving spouses and minor children of deceased bishops.
- Black College Fund (7%)
objective of the fund is to provide financial support for institutions of higher education that have historically served the educational needs of black students. More than $206 million has been raised since the fund was established to assist the programs and ministries of these schools.
- General Administration (5%)
The General Administration Fund finances those general church activities that are specifically administrative as contrasted with programmatic, missional, or ecumenical.
- Africa University (2%)
The 1988 General Conference approved establishment of a United Methodist university on the continent of Africa. By the time the 1992 General Conference convened, Africa University was a reality following the granting of a charter by the government of Zimbabwe. Capital improvements are now being funded by grants from governments, foundations, annual conferences, and individuals, with the apportioned funds used to support the operating budget.
- Interdenominational Cooperation Fund (1%)
The Interdenominational Cooperation Fund provides basic support for ecumenical agencies through which The United Methodist Church participates in God's mission in cooperation with other Christian communions.
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United Methodist Church funding allocations 2004-2007
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