As The United Methodist Church approaches a major legislative gathering that will determine the future of the denomination, Rick King, chief financial officer of the General Council on Finance and Administration, talks about the agency’s role in helping prepare the general church budget and several pieces of legislation that relate to the budget.
King spoke with UM News as part of a video series featuring different perspectives of church leaders on legislation to be considered by General Conference delegates.
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“Our dollars do more in a connectional system than in a single congregational system,” King says.
The budget process for a new quadrennium begins almost immediately after General Conference concludes. King walks through the steps for how the total figure is determined.
What does the budget consist of?
King breaks down the various ministries of The United Methodist Church and their percentage of the total budget.
Financial giving trends and projection
King looks at how the effects of COVID-19 on church giving and delaying the 2020 General Conference led to lower collection rates, and notes that the full financial impact of disaffiliations won’t be known for several more years.