Ministry Shares
What are Ministry Shares?
In The United Methodist Church, Ministry Shares refer to a system where local churches financially contribute to the larger denomination's mission and ministry. These shares are used to fund various programs, ministries, and initiatives at the annual conference, general conference, and global levels, including clergy training, development of new churches, and international missions.
Budget Categories
The categories that the Upper New York Annual Conference budget is currently segregated into are General Connectional Ministry and Conference Connectional Ministry.
What is General Connectional Ministry?
This section of the budget contains the General and Jurisdictional Church apportionments for our Annual Conference which are:
World Service
Ministerial Education
Black College
Africa University
Episcopal
General Administration
Interdenominational Cooperation
Northeastern Jurisdiction
What is Conference Connectional Ministry?
The funding/budgets for all of the activities under the leadership of the Annual Conference are captured in this section of the budget.
Conference Benevolences
The programmatic activities, mission teams and committees focused on carrying out the specifics of our Vision and Purpose are funded under this section.
Ministerial Support
The United Methodist Church’s structure, guided by the Book of Discipline, establishes funds and organizations that:
Support local churches and pastors through District offices, the Cabinet, and Equitable Compensation funds.
Support current, retired, and aspiring clergy through the Board of Ordained Ministry, Sustentation, and Moving Expense funds.
Support the episcopal office of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez.
Fund travel for Annual Conference delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences.
Conference Administration Ministry
The Upper New York Conference supports vital operational ministries—Communications, IT, Benefits & Personnel, Finance, and Office Operations—that form the foundation for successful missions and ministries across the Conference.
Conference budgets assume that not all churches will meet 100% of their ministry share commitments. If giving falls short, all areas are proportionately affected. However, through faith, discernment, and shared vision, the Conference believes that reaching full ministry share participation is achievable.