“Are We A Tithing Church?” I believe the United Methodist Church of Enfield is a faithful community of believer who are part of the Connecticut Western Massachusetts District of the New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church who are striving to become a tithing church. I know that we take our financial commitments to pay our shared conference Mission Shares seriously and have paid them in full for many years. The funds that make up our Mission Shares support our conference, district, and national church connection. These funds include World Missions, New England Missions, and Ministry Support and are included in our Annual Budget.

Included in World Missions is the Black College Fund, Africa University Fund, World Service, Episcopal Fund, Ministerial Education Fund, Interdenominational Cooperation Fund, and General Administration Fund.

New England Missions is the second fund of our Mission Shares. Through our faithful tithing we help support the program ministries that are so vital to the New England Annual Conference. Because of these program ministries, especially in the area of Camping/Retreat and Youth Ministries, someone has experienced the love of Jesus Christ and their lives have been changed forever.

The final fund in our Mission Shares is Ministry Support. This funding provides money to help our retired and disabled clergy and surviving spouses with health insurance benefits. These individuals have served many churches in our conference faithfully. Other monies from this fund support the Bishops office, our District Superintendents, the Board of Ordained Ministry, and provide Equitable Compensation grants that help other United Methodist Churches in our conference to continue to do ministry.

In addition to our Mission Shares, we also support our own Outreach, Nurture and Fellowship Ministries that continues to reach out in love and compassion in our local community. This is a commitment by us to do greater ministry that reaches out beyond the walls of our congregation sharing ministries of love and hope to a hurting community and world. In a sense, it is our tithe as a congregation to touch the lives of individuals in our local community with Christ’s love.

As you decide what your tithe will be for 2009 I am asking you to pray for God’s guidance to lead you in your decision making and when filling out your pledge card please keep in mind the many ministries we support through our local church budget. With your continued commitment I believe that we can continue to work together to becoming a tithing church. I firmly believe that when we tithe we are blessed by it because we know that we have shared Christ’s love to the least of these. May we continue to serve Christ faithfully through our tithing and service. Thanks be to God!