'Data-Driven Discernment' Tools Offered to General Conference Delegates

October 13, 2023

1:24 PM

Data Driven Discernment

"Strengthening the Episcopal Fund" is the first in a series of videos to inform 2024 General Conference delegates and other United Methodist financial leaders from the General Council on Finance and Administration.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The United Methodist Church's financial board, the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA), has launched a new campaign, "Data-Driven Discernment: Charting Hope at General Conference." To ensure that delegates and members are well-informed and equipped to make informed decisions, the "Data-Driven Discernment" campaign aims to foster financial stewardship, create awareness of legal implications, and emphasize data-backed decision making by members of The United Methodist Church in preparation for the upcoming General Conference.

The first educational video, “Strengthening the Episcopal Fund,” was released Oct. 12 and is accompanied by current financial reporting and economic modeling. GCFA plans to release a number of videos and resources focusing on the budget process, understanding disaffiliation, financial implications of proposed legislation, and more.

“"We believe that informed delegates and members are essential for the health and vitality of our denomination," said Rev. Moses Kumar, General Secretary of GCFA. "Through the 'Data-Driven Discernment' campaign, we aim to empower our community with knowledge, fostering a more informed and engaged decision-making process.”

For more information about the "Data-Driven Discernment" campaign and to access educational resources, please visit www.GCFA.org/generalconference.

The General Council on Finance and Administration coordinates and administers financial resources, safeguards the legal interests, and rights of the Church, and provides administrative resources to enable the fulfillment of the mission of The United Methodist Church.

UMC Support is GCFA’s ministry support services brand, offering quality ministry services to The United Methodist Connection in the areas of communications, copyright consultation, event sponsorship support, finance, human resources, information technology and travel and meeting planning. UMC Support also has a vetted ministry partner program, offering discounts and savings programs to ministries in the connection.

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Money Follows Mission

The UMC will have to make the case to church members as to exactly why they should give their money to the various funds for which appeal is made. As a for instance, the case will have to be made specifically what utility is offered by the episcopacy. This is not the single means of providing leadership to the UMC. Term rather than life episcopacy is used elsewhere other than the US with great success. Church members will ultimately have to be convinced of the credibility and utility of the episcopacy before they will commit dollars to that fund. That will take more than videos and talking point. Show just exactly what good the episcopacy does for the UMC. What is not needed is a history lesson of how the episcopacy developed, etc., etc. What is needed is a plain, straight forward, proof of exactly how the episcopacy is of use to the UMC in what is broadly called the post-Christian era.

bthomas 284 days ago