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GCFA Petitions to General Conference Available Online

The petitions to the 2012 General Conference that are being submitted by GCFA are now available. The reports of GCFA to the General Conference, which present the proposed funding requests for the seven general Church apportioned funds are now available. In addition, the independent report of the Socially Responsible Task Force is also available.

A Summary of the Apportioned General Funds is also available.

 Exceed your fundraising goals --

 Use the UM EFT Program to capture recurring donations

United Methodist Churches have an option when it comes to receiving donations. With the UM Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) program, setting up recurring donations is easy! UM EFT allows United Methodists to contribute by means of automatic recurring transfers from their bank accounts or payment cards. It is not only a convenient way to make regular offerings; it is also an effective way to boost contributions for special appeals. Many people find it easier to commit to a series of smaller automatic donations rather than make a large one-time contribution.

For more information on this plan and other services, visit www.vancoservices.com.

Special offers are now available from Vanco on recurring donation solutions!

Click here to learn more about recurring donation solutions from Vanco or call 800-774-9355.

What's New

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Toward Vitality Research Project

"How Is Your Congregation Vital?"

This is the question that the "Toward Vitality Research Project" wants to answer! How are you moving Toward Vitality? Are you running, stumbling, soaring, struggling? As United Methodists we have an important responsibility that God has laid before us -- transformation. 
I have discovered several definitions for transformation that provide a window for conversation.
Merriam-Webster defines transformation as "an act, process, or instance of transforming or being transformed". Not a definition that is very helpful until we look up "transforming".

  • To change in composition or structure
  • To change the outward form or appearance of
  • To change in character or condition

For our United Methodist purposes, Transformation is: A movement of hope into a future that is different from the past.  Transformation is a process that leads to being more Christ-like in our living as individuals and as congregations. It denotes an intentional decision to have Christ-like impact in our communities.

To learn more about how other United Methodist churches of all shapes and sizes are doing in their journey Toward Vitality, check out and like the Facebook page, "Toward Vitality", https://www.facebook.com/TransformingCongregations.
--Kim Shockley, Team Leader
Toward Vitality

IRS Increases Mileage Rate to 55.5 Cents per Mile

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2012 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2012, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

  • 55.5 cents per mile for business miles driven
  • 23 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
  • 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

The rate for business miles driven is unchanged from the mid-year adjustment that became effective on July 1, 2011. The medical and moving rate has been reduced by 0.5 cents per mile.

The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs as determined by the same study. Independent contractor Runzheimer International conducted the study.

Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.

A taxpayer may not use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) or after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle. In addition, the business standard mileage rate cannot be used for more than four vehicles used simultaneously.

These and other requirements for a taxpayer to use a standard mileage rate to calculate the amount of a deductible business, moving, medical or charitable expense are in Rev. Proc. 2010-51.

Notice 2012-01 contains the standard mileage rates, the amount a taxpayer must use in calculating reductions to basis for depreciation taken under the business standard mileage rate, and the maximum standard automobile cost that a taxpayer may use in computing the allowance under a fixed and variable rate plan.

Rev. Dec., 2011

What's Available on the GCFA Website:

  • All resources, forms, and reports – many of which have been available as spreadsheets or PDF documents – are available by clicking FORMS & RESOURCES on the navigation bar above.
  • The QUICK SEARCH area should provide you with the most frequently requested documents and services.
  • DONATE NOW will take you to special offerings. You can also access The Advance. Other funds will be added periodically.
  • You have the capability to print the page by using the PRINT-FRIENDLY VERSION option on each page of the site. Another new feature allows you to translate pages by selecting the language you desire. This will affect the pages, not the documents contained within. To revert back to English, visit the Google toolbar that pops up when you translate the document, and press SHOW ORIGINAL.
  • If you have linked www.gcfa.org from your site, please make the necessary updates to assure you’re linking to the most recent version of the site.

 

 

 

 

 

How Do I...

  • Make an online donation to a specific fund? From the DONATE NOW button, you will be directed to the online donation page. The link to “Donate Now” is also in the QUICK SEARCH box.
  • Find the monthly Financial Commitment Report? Click to FORMS/RESOURCES > REPORTS.
  • Locate the Group Ruling Request Form? Go to QUICK SEARCH on the right of this page, type in GROUP RULING in the Search criteria box, or go to FORMS/RESOURCES on the navigation bar.
  • Find the date for a meeting?  From the navigation bar click on UM CALENDAR.  Click on CHURCH CALENDAR.  Fill in as much information as you have about the meeting, just as you would on the previous GCFA site.  Press SUBMIT to get your search results.  
  • Locate the phone number for a staff member?  Locate ABOUT at the top of the home page.  Scroll to WHO WE ARE.  You will find a link for Board Members and a Staff Directory.