Conference’s “Shares in Ministry.” Support for the Annual Conference is as old as the United Methodist Church – since 1784. Through our giving, we unite with congregations across Central Pennsylvania to have a greater reach and a deeper impact with our ministry of sharing Jesus Christ.

The Annual Conference has three vital purposes: 1. Qualifying, training, ordaining, deploying and holding clergy accountable; 2. Managing risk through insurances, legal counsel and protection and 3. Combining our efforts for a greater reach in mission. The Annual Conference does even more, but these are among the most vital functions.

Each year we give about 12% of our annual budget to the Annual Conference Shares in Ministry.  We do not look upon this as a burden or a “tax” but as a way of participating in a ministry greater than ourselves.  We share with the nearly 800 churches of our Annual Conference in a ministry that reaches deep and broad here in Pennsylvania, across the U.S. and literally, around the world. What a privilege it is to share in something that actually makes a difference in the lives of so many people. So, where does it all go?

About 9˘ of your Shares in Ministry dollar   provide the salaries, travel and office expenses of our District Superintendents and Bishop, plus health insurance and pensions for pastors in our Conference, both active and retired. 

The day-to-day working of the Annual Conference Agencies such as the Finance Office or Board of Ministry are supported here…plus the sessions of the General and Jurisdictional Conferences are funded – from less than 10˘.   We also support resources like the Discovery Place, a lending library of video, audio and print resources, the conference web site and communications office and the LINK.

Through the 13 General Agencies of the UMC, we are engaged in ministries in medicine, education, farming, and evangelism around the USA and the world! As we combine with UM churches worldwide, we make a big impact on the planet in the lives of every day people! This accounts for about 38 cents of your dollar. This also allows us to send money directly to the mission need because the operating costs are already cared for through our shares in ministry. For example, a dollar sent to UMCOR goes directly to the need without losing even a penny for overhead.

The Conference Connectional Ministries and various other ministries of the Conference depend on about 5˘ of your Shares in ministry. Our nine districts also have block grants through which they can fund local ministries. The cost is less than 5˘ of your dollar. And the Annual Conference awards grants for projects in the local church, such as health initiatives (which we have received here at CUMC!) and new ministry start-ups.  And churches with promise that need a capable pastor can receive salary support for a fixed term to help their church grow.  A lot of your Shares in Ministry dollar actually comes back to the local church to resource and strength our ministry.

I trust our Conference leadership to be good stewards of the Shares in Ministry dollars we send. And by sharing this information, I hope you will trust them as well knowing that every dollar sent is money well managed and used for the ministry of sharing Jesus Christ.

                              - Pastor Bob Cook