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Fund # 6 Clergy Support
The Clergy Support apportionment provides funding for clergy salaries and benefits paid by the Florida Conference and for other expenses related to our clergy system. Since this is the largest area of expense in the conference budget it is also the largest single apportionment item for every local church. The conference spends nearly 100 percent of this budget area each year, so, by action of Annual Conference, this apportionment must be paid in full each year by every local church. Any part of this apportionment that a church does not pay in the current year is carried forward and added to that church’s apportionment the following year.
Fund # 7 World Service
World Service is “the first benevolent responsibility of the Church” (2000 United Methodist Book of Discipline, ¶812). This apportionment provides the basic financial resources for the core ministries of our denomination. It underwrites Christian mission around the world, empowers our evangelism efforts, stimulates church growth, expands Bible studies, supports local church programs, enriches spiritual commitment and provides the means to equip and nurture our lay leaders through education and professional support. Giving to World Service helps God’s children everywhere and enables the proclamation our Christian faith.
Fund # 9 Conference Benevolences
Conference Benevolences are the basic support for many programs and ministries in our own Florida Conference: all Conference Work Areas, Camps, Life Enrichment Center, Campus Ministries, leader development, urban and rural missions.
Fund # 10 Conference Service and Administration Fund
This apportionment funds the general operations and administration of the Florida Conference. The coordination, oversight, and other administrative services provided by the Conference are a vital part of all that we do together. Our buildings and facilities in Lakeland, Leesburg and other places serve to nurture, strengthen, and broaden our ministry and mission.
Fund # 12 New Church Starts
This apportionment helps underwrite the cost of starting new churches in the Florida Conference. Florida is one of the fastest growing states in the nation and the Florida Conference leads the nation in the number of new churches planted over the last five years.
Fund # 15 General Administration Fund
This fund provides the operating budget of the General Conference, delegate expenses and the budget of the Judicial Council (our Supreme Court). The General Conference is the top law-making and policy-making body of our denomination and includes elected representatives from each Annual Conference.
Fund # 18 Episcopal Fund
This apportionment pays for the expenses of active bishops and for the support of retired bishops and spouses. It pays for expenses related to Florida’s Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker. Any part of this apportionment that a church does not pay in the current year is carried forward and added to that church’s apportionment the following year.
Fund # 21 Interdenominational Cooperation Fund
This apportionment supports General Church ecumenical ministries. This is United Methodism in mission with other Christian denominations, witnessing to Christian unity.
Fund # 27 Ministerial Education Fund
The Ministerial Education Fund (MEF) helps recruit and train effective United Methodist Ministers. It is an essential element of assuring high-quality, well-prepared clergy for the United Methodist Church.
Fund # 30 Black College Fund
The Black College Fund supports the operational expense and capital improvement needs of our ten predominantly black, United Methodist related colleges and a medical school − including our own Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Fund # 35 Africa University
This apportionment helps fund the development of a United Methodist university located in Zimbabwe, Africa. This university provides opportunities for students throughout Africa and includes schools of theology, agriculture, and education.
Fund # 43 Jurisdictional Fund
This apportionment underwrites the cost of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference along with various programs of the Church in the Southeast.
Fund # 65 District Work Fund
Expense of the East Central District Office, salary for District staff, district parsonage expense and other district operational costs are provided through this fund. The District Work Fund for 2006 is apportioned for all districts at 5.4% of the 2006 salary plus housing (25% of salary if a parsonage is provided or the actual housing allowance if it is not) of appointed clergy (both elders and deacons).
Fund # 67 District Church Extension
Our District New Church Development Committee depends on this as the major source of funds assisting to start new churches and helping missions to sustain their work. It is apportioned according the district decimal, a measure of comparative economic strength based on what churches report spending on their own ministry. |
