1.     What are apportionments?

Apportionments are the way in which local churches combine their financial resources to enable our vision for mission and ministry at every level of the United Methodist Church.  In the Northern Illinois Conference, churches contribute to three apportioned funds (Support for Ordained Leadership, Mission & Evangelism, and Strengthening the Connection) which allow United Methodists to do together what no individual, church, cluster, district, or conference could do alone.

2.      Why do we pay Apportionments?

Apportionments are the primary financial way we live out our connection.  By contributing its share, each local church–no matter its size–is engaged in ministry locally, regionally and globally. 

3.     How are Apportionments calculated?

In the Northern Illinois Conference we use the local church’s budget, not membership, to calculate Apportionments.  Our current formula was approved by the 2005 Session of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference, and first implemented in 2006.  The formula matches like expenses so that local church expenditures are extended into similar ministries at the conference and denominational levels.  Learn more about the calculation here.

4.     Where do Apportionment dollars go?

Apportionment dollars are distributed to ministries here in the Northern Illinois Conference and around the world.  Looking at the NIC budget is one of the easiest ways to understand how apportionment dollars are used.  In fact, 83% of the 2011 NIC budget is projected to be funded through apportionment giving. 
When apportionments are supported in full:

• 25% of apportionment dollars are extended to ministries around the world through our conference’s share of the seven General Church Apportioned Funds. 
  
• 75% stay here in the NIC, funding:  District Superintendents’ and Administrators’ salaries and offices, scholarships for seminarians, continuing education for clergy, training for laity, clergy relocation costs, new church development and redevelopment, conference programming, outreach, mission sites, communications, and advocacy, as well as all of the administrative costs.

 
5.     How do Apportionments help my local church?

Apportionments are often referred to as “a portion meant for others,” meaning that they extend the mission of the church beyond each local congregation.  Yet, the local church does directly benefit from their apportioned giving.  Most of the services, programs, training events, grants, and resources offered by the Annual Conference and agencies of the General Church are paid for by apportionment dollars.  Every church is free to take advantage of these offerings.  Some churches also receive financial assistance from apportionment dollars due to emergencies or temporary hardship.

6.     What happens if my local church can’t or doesn’t pay its Apportionments?

Simply put, staff positions are reduced, resources are constrained, ministries suspended, and the work of the church simply doesn’t get done.  The bottom line is that fully funding the apportionment is mission critical for The United Methodist Church.

7.     Who is accountable for how Apportionment dollars are used?

You are! You may not be monitoring the funds directly, but elected representatives from your church, along with your pastor(s), vote whether or not to adopt the budget proposed at Annual Conference by the Conference Council on Finance & Administration.  On a day to day basis, conference spending is monitored by the Office of the Treasurer with oversight provided by the Conference Council on Finance and Administration.

8.     Where can I find more information and resources?

·    Northern Illinois Conference website
·    General Church Connection Giving website
·    On-line learning (Connectional Giving course CG101)

9.     How can I encourage my church to fully and faithfully support our Apportionments?

Here are just a few suggestions:

·    Begin with your own support.  When clergy members and lead lay persons support apportioned giving by understanding what it is and by sharing how important it is, a big step on the journey toward full support has been taken.

·    Plan your annual church budget to be able to pay your apportionment in full (or at a higher rate than the previous year).

·    Incorporate connectional giving in your stewardship campaigns and special fundraisers, or plan a special fundraising event with proceeds benefiting your church’s apportionment payment.

·    Utilize trained lay speakers to help you teach your congregation about connectional giving.

·    Start a regular feature in your bulletin or newsletter celebrating connectional giving. Watch for new worship materials coming soon to the NIC website.

·    Dedicate a bulletin board celebrating connectional giving with stories and pictures of apportionment dollars at work.

·    Ask your District Superintendent to share some examples of how apportionment dollars are helping churches in your district.

·    Promote the website www.umcgiving.org, and utilize its many resources.

·    Download and share this FAQ!

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