Posted on 02/13/2020 6:27:59 PM PST by lightman
United Methodism is increasingly likely to divide into separate traditional and liberal denominations. But even absent this division, the church was already heading towards sharp drops in funding for denominational structures, reflecting United Methodism’s ongoing drop in membership and resources. A recent memo from the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) outlined this reality.
GCFA is submitting to General Conference 2020 a quadrennial budget for United Methodism’s structures of $494 million, an 18% reduction from the 2017-2020 budget. These cuts include 35% for United Methodist Communications (UMCOM), 20% for General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) and General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), 20% for General Board of Higher Education, 15.5% for Discipleship Ministries (DM), 30% for Central Conference (overseas) Theological Education Fund, .5% for Commissions on the Status and Role of Women and Religion and Race, plus 87% for Interdenominational Fund, which contributes to National and World Councils of Churches.
Although not specifically in this GCFA memo, there’s a 33% proposed drop in funding for United Methodism’s 13 official seminaries. Another church documents admits this drop “should spur a needed conversation about whether or not we can continue to support 13 seminaries and all of our current licensing schools given declining resources.”
The GCFA memo notes that any denominational division will entail additional proportionate reductions. If 20% of USA membership joins a new traditional Methodist denomination, there would be a 20% decline for denominational structures, or an additional $99 million. Every one percent drop in membership potentially means a $5 million quadrennial drop in funding for the denomination.
I believe that at least 2 million USA United Methodists will join a new traditional denomination. Every year United Methodism loses nearly 100,000 members in the USA. During the chaos of the division, this decline will at least double, meaning at least 800,000 likely quite Methodism altogether over the next four years. These combined loses could equal or surpass over 40% of United Methodism’s current 6.7 million USA members. So by 2024 United Methodism’s national bureaucracy could face funding cuts of 60%.
GCFA notes that the proposed Protocol for division calls for United Methodism to pay $25 million to a new traditional denomination, and potentially $2 million to a new progressive denomination. Since GCFA’s proposed budget entails no cuts for the bishops and Africa University, among other projects, the cumulative cut for remaining church structures could be as much as $241 (49%) reduction, assuming a 20% membership drop. A 40% membership drop could ultimately entail a 70% funding drop for denominational structures.
Amid sharp budget cuts for United Methodist agencies, GCFA suggests bureaucratic consolidation, noting church agencies are currently in 5 cities and 10 separate buildings. Sale of some buildings and moving away from downtown “would realize a significant influx of cash” and “reduce overall cost of operation.” It also notes that their proposed budget sets $154 million (31% of total budget) for educational ministries and wonders if a “smaller denomination” should reduce this support.
GCFA notes that proposed funding for bishops in 2021-2024 is $98 million (20% of current proposed budget), up from $92 million (15% of the budget) in 2017-2020. If United Methodism loses 20% of membership, the Episcopal Fund then accounts for 25% of total proposed budget. It says current quadrennial costs for each USA bishop is $1.4 million in 46 Episcopal areas. Each of 5 USA jurisdictions is entitled to at least 5 bishops. Reducing that minimum by 1, or 5 bishops, would save $7 million per quadrennium. Europe has 4 bishops, each of which costs $1.5. African bishops, of whom there are currently 13 with 5 new Episcopal areas planned, cost $800,000 each. There are 3 Filipino bishops, each costing $800,000.
Salaries and benefits for bishops including retirees are $56 million per quadrennium, office support is $21 million, travel and other support is $5 million. Support for the Council of Bishops is $11 million per quadrennium, with their meetings costing $5 million.
Regarding the $25 million proposed for payment to a new traditional Methodist church and possibly $2 million for new progressive denomination, GCFA suggested these funds could come from increasing apportionments on local churches. Or they could come from reducing payments to church agencies, which would reduce their already scheduled reductions by an additional 7%. It also noted there’s real estate income from buildings owned by church agencies.
My prediction is that GCFA likely underestimates the sharp drop in funding for United Methodist structures over the next four years, with dramatic consequences for the United Methodist bureaucracy.
Of course the denomination was not named after the "Apostle to the Slavs" but for the "method" of organization and the methodology of the Wesleyan "class meeting"
Therefore:
Lutheran (EL C S*A) Ping!
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Be rooted in Christ!
The August 19 date refers solely to the adoption of the gaysbian agenda, NOT to the “Full Communion” agreement.
Good!
Good luck squeezing blood from turnips.
The conservatives are not donating until they have a separate church. Why send money to the bad guys who will keep most of it?
Good point.
How have other denominations fared with schisms; anyone know?
In this case, we will see a liberal denomination forming, but,are they going to be able to recruit enough new members, who are excited about homosexuality, etc. that will motivate them to join such a denomination? And of course, the money end of things will be an issue.
Good post.
With the current dominant role of communism in all politics and education these days, lesser communist influences like the United Methodist Church are becoming unnecessary...
Another denomination destroyed by homosexuality despite the clear teachings of Scripture.
I don’t thing I’ll be using the old phrase, “Recovering Methodist”, anymore. Any suggestions?
Even after the traditionalists leave (and that is a scam in itself) the remaining denomination will own billions in real estate.
Makes sense.
Had the same question at one time. I just go by Baptist now.
The United Methodist Church lost me when a group of students from my church but sponsored by the National organization returned from Rhodesia with glowing support for Mugabe.
They said nothing about Mugabe opponent, a Methodist Bishop,
Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa.
The UMC has been cleaning out Bible centered pastors for 40 years. They have now reached the state of clearing out Bible centered congregants. My heart has been broken for many years by the cold calculations of Bishops and their little lords who love their power more than the Holy Spirit.
I absolutely will give my heart and my service to a Christ centered, Bible believing, faith based Methodist denomination.
When Constantine took over the church started by Jesus and the Apostles in about 325 AD, he brought his pagan beliefs into the early church. It became the Whore of Babylon replacing Gods calendar and holidays with pagan days.
In the Spiritual language used in Scripture, a woman is a church or religion, and daughters break off from the mother. A whore is just a woman that fornicates with other gods. Nimrod is the type and shadow for the antichrist. His wife was Semiramis and his son was Tammuz and his daughter was Thyatira. You can read about Tammuz in Ezekiel 8 and Thyatira is in Revelation 2. Nothing of any Biblical importance happened on Easter (or Astarte or Ishtar) or Christmas (Tammuz is said to have been born on the winter solstice Dec 25th). Ishtar is the fertility god that is thought to be Semiramis. None of this has anything to do with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, found in the Bible.
People have made up a nice saying that says "What would Jesus do?" He observed 7th day Sabbath and made all of the Feast Days in the Bible. He was killed on Passover, buried on Unleavened Bread, rose from the grave on First Fruits, and the church was born on Pentecost. The church will be Raptured on Trumpets at the Last Trump, and Judgement day will happen on Atonement. Tabernacles will bring the thousand year reign of Christ on earth. The earth will burn and eternity begins on the Eighth Day.
What Christian church even teaches the Bible let alone observes God's Law. Jesus told us in Matthew 5 that the Law will not end until earth and heaven burn up. Now sodomites get married in these churches and even pastor said churches. Jesus will say "I never knew you" "Leave me you workers of lawlessness." Read your Bibles or stay in your denominations but you can't do both.
If the schism happens, I might again start attending the church of my youth. Out in the West though, MOST Methodist churches will probably be going with the liberal indoctrination. So, maybe I won’t start until the cleaning is all done.
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