Churchwide Special Offerings

Changing the World, One Life at a Time

Churchwide Special Offerings

 

The United Methodist Church accepts donations to these offerings throughout the year. Please use the links below if you would like to contribute to these funds online.

 

If you would like to have your donations to these funds reflected on your annual year-end statement sent out by Aldersgate Church, you can drop a check in the offering plate at worship made out to "Aldersgate UMC" and designate in the notes section which fund you wish to support. The financial administrator will note the gift and will forward your donation to the appropriate United Methodist Church fund.

 

 

Human Relations Day

 

History

The 1972 General Conference established Human Relations Day to promote support for Community Developers, United Methodist Voluntary Services and Police-Community Relations programs. Begun in 1968, the three programs had received support from the churchwide Bishop‘s Fund for Reconciliation. In 1989, the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program replaced the Police-Community Relations Program to respond to the growing population of youth offenders and their need for creative redirection.

 

Your generous contributions support:

Community Developers Program, related to the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM)—57 percent of the offering. Persons work in racial- and ethnic-minority communities in the United States and Puerto Rico.

 

United Methodist Voluntary Services, GBGM—33 percent. A multiracial network of grassroots social justice organizations provides vital outreach.

 

Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program, affiliated with the General Board of Church and Society—10 percent. Christ-centered projects give teenagers a chance to succeed.

 

Click here to donate online for Human Relations Programs

 

One Great Hour of Sharing

 

History

In 1946, One Great Hour of Sharing began as a special effort of the Episcopal Church. In 1949, the observance became ecumenical. Originally, during one special worship hour on one date, people of faith contributed over and above their regular offerings. Today different denominations celebrate One Great Hour of Sharing on various dates, but the cooperative spirit remains.

 

Your generous contributions . . .

To One Great Hour of Sharing lay the foundation of all of UMCOR‘s work by covering the costs of doing business. This means all gifts designated to specific programs can go 100% to those programs because UMCOR‘s basic expenses are covered.

 

Click here to donate online for One Great Hour of Sharing

 

Native American Ministries Sunday

 

History

In a petition to the 1988 General Conference, the Native American International Caucus proposed Native American Awareness Sunday, and delegates approved the new churchwide Special Sunday with offering. The 2000 General Conference changed the name of the observance to Native American Ministries Sunday.

 

Your generous contributions support:

The annual conference keeps 50 percent of the receipts to develop and strengthen Native American ministries within the conference. The conference committee on Native American ministry administers these funds. If no Native American ministries exist within the conference, this portion of the offering expands the number of target cities in the Native American Urban Initiative (General Board of Global Ministries).

 

The other 50 percent of the net receipts provides scholarships for Native Americans attending United Methodist schools of theology and other schools approved by the University Senate of The United Methodist Church (General Board of Higher Education and Ministry).

 

Click here to donate online for Native American Ministries

 

Peace With Justice Sunday

 

History

The 1980 General Conference created a churchwide Peace with Justice program assigned to the General Board of Church and Society. By 1984, peace with justice ministries had sprung up throughout the church. The 1984 General Conference voted to support the program with an annual offering on World Order Sunday, established half a century ago to build recognition and support for the work of the United Nations. The 1988 General Conference established Peace with Justice Sunday as the first Sunday after Pentecost to give churches a single, more convenient date for the offering and a name that clearly identifies the ministries it supports.

Each annual conference has a Peace with Justice coordinator who networks with coordinators in other conferences across the connection. Peace with Justice coordinators meet annually for spiritual growth, empowerment and program resourcing. To contact your conference coordinator, go to www.umc-gbcs.org. Click on ―Peace with Justice‖; then click on ―Peace with Justice Coordinators.

 

Your generous contributions support:

The annual conference keeps 50 percent of the receipts for Peace with Justice ministries in the conference. The conference board of church and society or an equivalent structure administers these funds.

 

The remaining 50 percent is used for Peace with Justice ministries related to the General Board of Church and Society.

 

Click here to donate online for the Peace with Justice program

 

World Communion Sunday

 

History

In 1940 the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America established World-wide Communion Sunday—originally a Presbyterian observance—as a global, interdenominational event. Prompted by the impact of World War II, the Methodist Church received an offering on this Sunday for the Fellowship of Suffering and Service. It aided the work of the Methodist Committee on Overseas Relief (now the United Methodist Committee on Relief), the Commission on Chaplains and the Commission on Camp Activities. In 1971, The United Methodist Church changed the name of the observance to World Communion Sunday and redistributed the offering to support the Crusade Scholarship Program (begun in 1944), the Ethnic Minority Scholarship Program and the Division of Chaplains and Related Ministries. In 1980, Chaplains and Related Ministries was moved to World Service funding, but the World Communion Sunday offering continued to assist racial- and ethnic-minority persons pursuing various avenues of ministry. The 2008 General Conference changed the name of Crusade Scholars to World Communion Scholars.

 

Your generous contributions support:

World Communion Scholarships, related to the General Board of Global Ministries—50 percent of the offering. These are for international and U.S. (racial- and ethnic-minority) graduate students. At least half of the annual amount goes to ministries beyond the United States.

 

Ethnic Scholarship Program, affiliated with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) —35 percent of offering. This benefits undergraduate students.

 

Ethnic In-Service Training Program, GBHEM—15 percent of offering. Racial– and ethnic–minority persons seeking second careers in church-related vocations receive these scholarships.

 

Click here to donate online for World Communion Scholarships and Training

 

United Methodist Student Day

 

History

In 1866, a special fund was established for the advanced education of Sunday school children and the educational preparation of persons for the ministry and missionary service. The 1940 General Conference established Methodist Student Day with a churchwide offering. The 1968 Uniting Conference continued this connectional student-aid program to be funded by the United Methodist Student Day offering. Dates for taking the offering have changed through the years.

 

Your generous contributions support:

United Methodist scholarships and the U.M. Student Loan Fund, administered by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM).

 

Annual conferences participating in the Rebate Program may award one or more merit scholarships to United Methodist students. Participating conferences may award scholarships to U.M. students who reside in the conference and who attend or will attend a U.M.-related college or university.

 

Click here to donate online for the United Methodist scholarships & U.M. Student Loan Fund