Delegates voted to reduce a key component of calculating apportionments — the portion of church giving requested to fund the general-church budget.
During an afternoon session on April 30, delegates passed the new base rate for The United Methodist Church’s apportionment formula in the most contested plenary vote so far at this year’s General Conference.
Your support of The General Administration Fund apportionment implements trustworthy administrative oversight like the General Conference sessions.
As a result, conferences will shift from their current base rate of 3.29% to a base rate of 2.6% for 2025 and 2026. Then, if the apportionment collection rate is 90% or higher in those years, the base rate will jump to 2.9% for 2027 and 2028.
Bottom line: U.S. annual conferences will be asked to pay lower apportionments compared to what delegates passed at the 2016 General Conference. Also, denomination-wide ministries that rely on those apportionments — including general agencies and episcopal leadership — will need to be budgeted with those cuts in mind.
The Financial Administration legislative committee had recommended increasing that base rate to 2.9% in the petition that went before the body.
On behalf of the committee, the Rev. Drew Dyson said the 2.9% rate strikes a balance between support for local ministry and a commitment to God’s church.
“It reflects our values and commitments as a church,” Dyson said.
However, Don House, speaking on behalf of the committee’s minority report, said he and others on the committee recommended 2.6% instead, citing a need to be mindful of church health. House said The United Methodist Church has gone from a 91.8% collection rate in 2016 to 73.7% in 2022 and to a projected 68.5% in 2024. He noted the 2.6% rate, while rounded up from the GCFA’s proposed 2.5954212777, was what GCFA had spent “countless hours” researching and ultimately recommending.
“Our overall goal is to have sufficient health among churches to provide adequate funding for the agencies,” House said.
Delegates debated both the committee report and the minority report, ultimately voting 455-266 to substitute the minority report.
Minnesota delegate Dave Nuckols stood to propose an amendment to the minority report, which would start with a base rate of 2.6% for 2025 and 2026 but shift to 2.9% for 2027 and 2028. As Nuckols explained, many in the United States are facing significant financial pressure following disaffiliation and feel a significant relief from apportionments is appropriate, yet they simultaneously place great value on connectionalism and funds such as The Black College Fund and Africa University, both of which the base rate supports.
Upon request, GCFA top executive Moses Kumar said 2018 was the last time The United Methodist Church had achieved more than 90%.
The final vote on the full petition as amended passed 640-94.
After the vote, presiding Bishop David Alan Bard, Michigan Conference, praised the body for their lengthy but important work for the church.
“Friends, we did some heavy lifting — a minority report, multiple amendments — so thank you for your good work.”
excerpt from a story by Jessica Brodie, editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate.
One of seven apportioned giving opportunities of The United Methodist Church, the General Administration Fund implements trustworthy administrative oversight, supports the legislative processes of the church and curates The United Methodist Church’s rich history. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the General Administration Fund apportionment at 100 percent.
