4
MONEY FOR
MISSION
S E C T
I O N
F O U R
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MONEY FOR MISSION
4.1
Financial support for United Methodist mission comes from the following funds:
World Service
World Service, the basic undesignated fund of the denomination, provides the primary
support for most of the general agencies of The United Methodist Church and its pro
grams throughout the world. In support of mission, the General Board of Global
Ministries received 86.35% of World Service in 2003, the lowest in several years.
The Advance
The major source of designated funds for mission is the Advance, through which individ
uals, groups, and local churches can specify funds for missionary support and approved
projects of the various program areas.
United Methodist Women’s Pledge to Mission
Pledge to Mission is undesignated giving of United Methodist Women in support of mis
sion. Appropriations have been made annually by the directors of the Women’s Division
for significant support of mission activities through other program areas of the General
Board of Global Ministries, with special attention to needs of women and children.
Call to Prayer and Self-Denial
The annual Call to Prayer and Self-Denial observance of United Methodist Women pro
vides funding for selected mission projects both nationally and internationally as well as
support of retirement benefits for missionaries and deaconesses once a quadrennium.
One Great Hour of Sharing
The One Great Hour of Sharing offering, taken the fourth Sunday in Lent in United
Methodist churches, goes entirely to the United Methodist Committee on Relief as its
basic form of support. UMCOR does not receive any World Service dollars.
World Communion
World Communion offering, taken the first Sunday in October, provides support for the
Crusade Scholars program, which assists United Methodist international and racial-eth
nic graduate students.
Rural Life Sunday
Rural Life Sunday, though set by each annual conference, is normally celebrated on the
fifth Sunday after Easter and may in