APPORTIONMENTS

COMMITTEE ON DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENCY
– Ava Johnson, Good Samaritan UMC

Membership:   In the San Jose District, this committee is composed of eleven members, including the district superintendent, district lay leader, and two persons appointed by the district superintendent.  Five of the eleven persons are clergy. 

Selection:  The members are selected by the district conference or, where there is no district conference, by the annual conference.  The bishop, or his or her authorized representative, shall be an ex officio member of said committee.

Purpose:  The purpose of the committee on district superintendency shall be to support the district superintendent of the district in the oversight of the spiritual and temporal affairs of the Church.  In fulfilling this purpose, the committee shall give attention to the following responsibilities:

a) To advocate for adequate budget-support services for the district superintendent, such as adequate secretarial support, travel, continuing education, and parsonage needs.

b) To be available for counsel.

c) To keep the district superintendent advised concerning conditions within the district as they affect relations among the district superintendent, the laity, the clergy, and the district agencies.

d) To establish a clearly understood process for observing the district superintendent’s ministry with direct evaluation and feedback.

e) To consult with the district superintendent concerning continuing education.

f) To interpret to the people of the district and to the district boards and agencies the nature and function of the district superintendency.

Duties And Responsibility Of The Church Treasurer
– Ava Johnson, Good Samaritan UMC

        The Primary Task of the Church Treasurer is to disburse all funds received into the church treasury in a responsible and organized manner, with funds identified and bills paid when due.

        The responsibilities of the Church treasurer include, but are not limited to the following:·          

Helpful Skills and Interests. 

Training for Church Treasurer

        From time to time the district and conference offer workshops that will be helpful.  Check with the pastor, the committee on lay leadership and/or your district superintendent to find opportunities that matches training needs.

Helpful Resources:

The Duties And Responsibilities Of The Local Church Board Of Trustees
– Ava Johnson, Good Samaritan UMC

      In each pastoral charge consisting of one local church, there shall be a Board of Trustees, consisting of not fewer than three nor more than nine persons.  The trustees shall be of legal age as determined by law, and at least two-thirds shall be members of The United Methodist Church.  No pastor is a voting member of the board of trustees unless elected as a member.
      The members of the board of trustees shall be divided into three classes, and each class shall as nearly as possible consist of an equal number of members.  At the charge conference on recommendation by the Committee on Lay Leadership, or from the floor, it shall elect to take office at the beginning of the ensuing calendar year or at such other times as the charge or church conference may set, to serve for a term of three years.
      The responsibilities of the trustees shall include, but are not limited to the following:

1.   To oversee, maintain, and supervise all local church property, reporting annually to the charge conference.

2.   To receive and administer all gifts that are made to the congregation. 

3.   To make certain that all trust funds of the congregation are invested properly.

4.   To ensure that the Articles of Incorporation of the congregation are kept up-to-date.

5.   To be responsible, in consultation with the pastor, for all use of the church building and grounds. 

6.   To be responsible for adequate insurance coverage on all church property.

7.   To submit annual budget requests to the committee on finance for property maintenance and improvement, as well as new property purchases.

8.   To be accountable to the charge conference and the church council.  

      The board of trustees shall elect from the membership thereof, to hold office for a term of one year or until their successors shall be elected, a chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, and, if need requires, a treasurer.

Training:
      From time to time the district offers workshops that can help you in your task.  Check with the pastor, the committee on lay leadership, and/or your district superintendent to find opportunities that match your training needs.

Other Resources:
      People in your congregation or other congregations who are involved in issues related to investment and church property.
      InfoServ (800) 251-8140, a toll-free direct telephone service for United Methodists, providing current information about resources, programs, and staff services.  Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation—Trustees.  Order from Cokesbury (800) 672-1789
      The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church—2000.
Order from Cokesbury, (800) 672-1789.
      For more information, visit the General Board of Discipleship Web site www.gbod.org/.

DISTRICT COUNCIL ON MINISTRIES (DCOM) (September 2003 District Spirit)
– Ava Johnson, Good Samaritan UMC

      Each district of an annual conference may organize to develop, administer and evaluate the missional life, advocacy needs, and ministries of the Church in and through the district.  It maintains connectional relationships, it organizes to  help develop and strengthen ethnic ministries, including ethnic local churches and concerns, and also provides encouragement, coordination, and support for local churches in their ministries of nurture, outreach, and witness in accordance with the mission of The United Methodist Church.  It receives reports and recommendations from district committee chairpersons, reviews and evaluates the effectiveness of programs and ministries and develops an annual budget.
      The San Jose District DCOM’s mission is to provide opportunities and resources for the local church to accomplish their ministries.  Our vision is to see that local churches are fulfilled and refreshed to meet the changing needs of the world in which they minister.
      The membership of DCOM will include:  The District Superintendent, a chairperson, secretary, all chairpersons of district committees, district lay leader, president of the United Methodist Women, the communications coordinator and members at large.  

Return to top of page

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF LOCAL CHURCH LAY LEADERS (July 2003 District Spirit)
– Ava Johnson, Good Samaritan UMC

Out of the general ministry of each local church, there shall be elected by the charge conference a lay leader who shall function as the primary lay representative of the laity in the church and shall have the following responsibilities:
1.     To foster awareness of the role of laity both within the congregation and through their
      ministries in daily life and to find ways within the community of faith to recognize these
      ministries.
2.  To function as the primary lay representative of the laity in the local church.
3.  To meet regularly with the pastor to discuss the state of the church and the needs for
     ministry.
4.  To serve on the committee on lay leadership, the committee on finance, the church
     council, and the charge conference
5.  To take part in study and training opportunities in order to understand the church and its
     mission.
6.  To inform lay people of training opportunities provided by the annual conference or district.
7.    To interpret (with the pastor and lay member of the annual conference) to the
     congregation the actions and programs of the annual conference and the general church
8.  To assist in advising the church council of opportunities available and the needs expressed for a more effective ministry of the church through its laity in the community.

 Training for Your Job:

From time to time the district offers workshops that can help you in your task—on topics such as working with volunteers, Lay Speaking Ministries, and conflict resolution.  Check with your pastor, the committee on lay leadership, district lay leader, and/or your district superintendent to find opportunities that match your training needs.

Resources:

Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation; 2001-2004—Lay Leader/Lay Member.  Order from Cokesbury, (800) 672.1789

Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church—2000

Your pastor, laypeople in your congregation, lay leaders in other congregations, district and conference lay leaders can be valuable resources

Return to top of page

COMMITTEE ON LAY LEADERSHIP
– Ava Johnson, Good Samaritan United Methodist Church 

 It is time to begin preparation for the fall church/charge conference.  In preparation, one of the major responsibilities is leadership selection.  The leadership selection is the responsibility of The Committee on Lay Leadership.

         The charge of this committee is to identify, develop, deploy, evaluate and monitor Christian spiritual leadership for the local congregation.  It shall provide a means of identifying the spiritual gifts and abilities of the membership. The committee shall work with the church council, or alternative administrative bodies, to determine the diverse ministry tasks of the congregation, the skills needed for leadership and assist in assessing the changing leadership needs.

         The committee shall recommend to the charge conference, at its annual session, the names of people to serve as officers and leaders of designated ministries of the church council, or alternative administrative body, required for the work of the church and as the law of the church requires or as the charge conference deems necessary to its work. 

         The committee is to be composed of not more than nine persons, in addition to the pastor and the lay leader.  At least one young adult shall serve as a member.  The pastor shall be the chairperson.  A layperson, elected by the committee on Lay Leadership, shall serve as the vice chairperson of the committee.  All members must be full members of the local church

          In order to secure experience and stability, the membership shall be divided into three classes, one of which shall be selected each year for a three-year term. Retiring members of the committee shall not succeed themselves.  When vacancies occur during the year, nominees shall be elected by the church council, with the permission of the district superintendent.

         In the identification and selection process, care shall be given that the leadership of ministries reflects inclusivity and diversity.

         It is recommended that the Lay Leadership Committee members:

         (1)  Become familiar with the gifts, skills, interests, knowledge and commitment of
                persons in your congregation.

         (2)  Study the responsibilities for each leadership position.

         (3)  Prayerfully match potential leaders with particular leadership positions

         (4)  Identify competencies need for a variety of ministry tasks

         (5)  Prepare job descriptions that are adapted to the needs and organizational
                style of your church

         (6)  Provide training and support

         (7)  Consider people of various ages and life situations

         (8)  Elect a lay co-chairperson—the pastor is the chairperson—to represent the
                committee on the church council

         (9)  Keep strictly confidential information gathered

       (10)  Invite persons to serve in leadership positions

       (11)  Be active and attentive in developing their own spiritual life.

        It is critical that leadership positions be limited to a specific term.

Additional Resources that Can Help:

The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church—2004

Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation: (Cokesbury, 1- 800 672-1789 )

Gen. Board of Discipleship Web Site (http://www.gbod.org).

Job Descriptions and Leadership Training for Local Church Leaders (For use by the Committee on Lay Leadership and in the orientation of each officer.)

Return to top of page

Church Location

Return to top of page

Duties And Responsibilities Of The Church Council (June 2004 District Spirit)
– Ava Johnson, Good Samaritan UMC

         “The duties of the Church Council shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

The Church Council shall provide for the planning and implementing of a program of nurture, outreach, witness, and resources in the local church. It shall provide for the administration of its organization and temporal life. It shall envision, plan, implement, and annually evaluate the mission and ministry of the church.

The Church Council shall be amenable to and function as the administrative agency of the charge conference.

Mission and Ministry, Nurture, Outreach, and Witness Ministries and their accompanying responsibilities include:

The Nurturing Ministries of the congregation shall give attention to but not limited to education, worship, Christian formation, membership care, small groups, and stewardship.
The Outreach Ministries of the church shall give attention to, but not limited to, local and larger community ministries of compassion, justice and advocacy
The Witness Ministries of the church shall give attention to developing and strengthening evangelistic efforts of sharing of personal and congregational stories of Christian experience, faith, and service; communications; lay speaking ministries; and other means that give expressions of witness of Jesus Christ.

The Leadership Development and Resourcing Ministries shall give attention to the ongoing preparation and development of lay and clergy leaders for the ministry of the church.

Meetings:
       The council shall meet at least quarterly.  The chairperson or the pastor may call special meetings.
        In order for the council to give adequate consideration to the missional purpose of the local church, it is recommended that the first agenda item at each meeting be related to its ministries of nurture, outreach and witness. The administrative supportive responsibilities of the church will then be given atIn the interest of privacy of discussion, if personnel matters (such as salaries, staffing requirements, performance, etc.) are being discussed and church staff are in attendance, the staff members shall be required to leave the meeting until the staffing related matters are completed.

Other Responsibilities
1. Review the membership of the local church
2.  Fill interim vacancies occurring among the lay officers of the church between sessions of the annual conference
3.  Establish the budget on recommendation of the committee on finance and ensure  adequate provisions for the financial needs of the church
4.  Recommend to the charge conference the salary and other remuneration of the pastor(s) and staff persons after receiving recommendations from the committee on pastor-parish relations
5.  Review the recommendation of the committee on pastor-pastor relations regarding provisions of adequate housing for the pastor(s), and report the same to the charge conference for approval.  Housing provisions shall comply with the annual conference housing policy and parsonage standards

Membership
        The charge conference will determine the size of the church council. Members of the church council shall be involved in the mission and ministry of the congregation as defined in the Discipline of the United Methodist Church (paragraph 242).The membership shall include but not be limited to the following:

– The Chairperson of the Church Council
–  The lay leader
–   Recording secretary
–  The chairperson and/or a representative of the pastor-parish relations committee
–  The chairperson and/or a representative of the committee on finance
–  The chairperson and/or a representative of the board of trustees
–  The church treasurer
–  The president and/or representative of the United Methodist Men
–  The president and/or representative of the United Methodist Women
–  A representative of the United Methodist Youth
–  The lay member to annual conference
–  The pastor(s)
–  Other committee chairpersons (as determined by the committee on Lay Leadership)
–  Members at large (as determined by the committee on Lay Leadership)

Quorum
         The members present and voting at any duly announced meeting shall constitute a quorum.”

APPORTIONED FUNDS Sharing God’s Gifts
– Ava Johnson, Good Samaritan UMC

         Apportioned Funds enable United Methodists to do together what no church, district or annual conference can do alone. The United Methodist follow in John Wesley’s footsteps, supporting one another and helping God’s children whenever and wherever we can.
         One way we accomplish this task is through our apportioned funds, a method of giving that proportionally allocates the general church budget to conferences (which subsequently apportion to local churches). This method of giving has become a strong, generous tradition. 
         Together, through our connected congregations, we United Methodists accomplish what no single church, district or annual conference ever could hope to do.
         The seven apportioned funds include:

World Service Fund The World Service Fund apportionment is the heart of our denomination wide presence, underwriting Christian mission and ministry around the world.It enables United Methodists to reach out through the general church boards and agencies.

General Administrative Fund The General Administrative Fund apportionment supports general church administrative activities. The fund maintains a system of management oversight and fiscal accountability; under- writes the legislative work of General Conference; supports the work of the Judicial Council; maintains official documents and historical artifacts; and designates historical church shrines, landmarks and sites.

Ministerial Education Fund The Ministerial Education Fund apportionment has helped thousands of men and women become pastoral leaders in The United Methodist Church. The importance of the Ministerial Education Fund apportionment is how it affects the quality of pastors serving in The United Methodist Church. Funding quality education in our seminaries is, undoubtedly, our most important investment in the future.

Interdenominational Cooperation Fund The Interdenominational Cooperation Fund apportionment was established in 1952 to: support ecumenical efforts around the world; witness to the Christian faith; foster a renewal of Christian unity and understanding; meet human suffering; and advocate for global peace and justice.

Black College Fund Since 1972 the Black College Fund has supported the programs and ministries of 11 historically Black Colleges and universities. It is nurtured and funded by the United Methodists through the Black College Fund apportionment. This apportioned fund supports departmental research, libraries, operations and physical plant maintenance. It also supports capital expenditures such as new buildings, major remodeling projects and endowments.

Africa University Fund Since 1992, Africa University, the only United Methodist degree-granting university in Africa has served and graduated hundreds of men and women from 20 countries. It is nurtured and funded by United Methodists through the Africa University apportionment. This apportioned fund supports ongoing operations, including building maintenance, utilities, classroom equipment and supplies, faculty and staff salaries, and other operational expense.

Episcopal Fund The Episcopal Fund apportionment provides economic support for the following diverse and important tasks: pays bishops’ salaries, pays episcopal office expenses, reimburses 67% of the costs of episcopal residences, provides pension and health benefit coverage, covers travel costs, defrays moving expenses, provides pensions for retired bishops and surviving spouses, and minor children of deceased bishops.

United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR)
– Ava Johnson, Good Samaritan UMC

            The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is a not-for-profit agency with work in over 100 countries. UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. The agency is a unit of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
            Responding to natural or man-made disasters, UMCOR’s mission is to alleviate human suffering with open minds to all religions and open hearts to all people. UMCOR is a humanitarian, non-proselytizing agency of the United Methodist Church.
            Floods, hurricanes and tornadoes have hurt thousand in many areas of the United States. These natural disasters have taken their hardest toll on persons who can least afford the cash and energy it takes to recover- older adults, the ill, the underemployed and unemployed.  
            A lack of funds is severely restricting the agency’s ability to continue responding to needs such as the recent Hurricane Isabel and southern California fires. The relief agency’s “Church wide Appeal for USA Domestic Disasters,” launched in October 2003, had only drawn in tens of thousands of dollars in donations by early December, far short of an anticipated $2 million goal. 
Gifts may be made by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115; or calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted.
            Please pray for those who are hungry, displaced, sick or in poverty because of natural and human-made disasters, and for the workers who minister to them.
To find out more about UMCOR’s ministries, visit the w

ebsite: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/.

Return to top of page