EVANSTON, Ill. — The United Methodist Church reported a 3.3 percent drop in general giving to the church for the first half of 2003.
As of June 30, the church had received $37.1 million, a drop of about $1.3 million compared to the same point in 2002, according to the church’s General Council on Finance and Administration.
Giving is funneled up from local churches to regional bodies known as annual conferences, and then to an Evanston, Ill.-based finance agency.
That agency then distributes the money to seven “apportioned funds” that run most of the church’s operations. Still, the bulk of the church’s money is usually received from local churches in the last quarter of the year.
Last year, the church had received 30 percent income by the end of June; this year, the church had received 28.6 percent of its projected 2003 income by the end of June. Giving to the largest fund, the World Service fund, was down 4.7 percent from last year, to $19.7 million, compared to $20.6 million.
Four other funds also showed decreases.
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