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  • GCFA Announces Year End Financials, Seeks Prayers for New General Secretary

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 25, 2026 NASHVILLE, Tenn. —  The Board of Directors of the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) of The United Methodist Church met February 25 in Nashville, Tennessee, hearing updates on the 2025 fiscal year end for the denomination. The Board received year-end financial and collections reports and celebrated the continued generosity of United Methodists across the connection, which sustains shared ministry around the world and supports the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. GCFA shared its year-end financial report  summarizing the denomination’s financial position and ministry impact. The end of the year collection rate for all conferences was 83.9%, with 19 of 51 annual conferences within the U.S. Regional Conference paying 100% or more of apportionments, and nine of 22 episcopal areas within the Africa, Asia and Europe Regional Conferences paying 100% or more of apportionments.   Board and committee members honored the retirement of GCFA General Secretary Rev. Moses Kumar, expressing gratitude for his years of dedicated service and leadership guiding the denomination through significant financial and organizational transitions. The Board also heard opening remarks from newly elected General Secretary Caitlin Congdon, who emphasized collaborative leadership, responsible stewardship, and strengthening the connection through trusted financial and administrative support as the church continues to meet the present moment together. As the church enters a new fiscal year, the board affirmed GCFA’s commitment to supporting conferences, agencies, and local churches through transparency, accountability, and connectional partnership. About GCFA The General Council on Finance and Administration serves as the administrative and fiscal services agency of The United Methodist Church, providing financial accountability, administrative support, and trusted guidance to the global connection.

  • Pastor Impersonation Scams: What Church Leaders Need to Know

    Across the country, churches and ministries are seeing a troubling rise in identity spoofing scams —particularly those that impersonate pastors or other trusted church leaders. These scams often arrive as emails or text messages that appear to come directly from a pastor and urgently request gift cards, financial assistance, or sensitive information. In many cases, congregants and staff come dangerously close to falling victim before realizing the message is fraudulent. ¹ This is not an isolated issue affecting only a few congregations. Reports from faith-based publications, church accountability organizations, and news outlets show that pastor impersonation and phishing scams are a common challenge facing churches, ministries, and faith-based organizations nationwide . Cybersecurity experts note that churches are frequently targeted because of their culture of trust, publicly available contact information, and limited technical safeguards. ²   ³ How Pastor Impersonation Scams Work Cybercriminals often: Spoof a pastor’s name or email address Use urgent or emotional language (“I need your help right now”) Request gift cards, wire transfers, or confidential information Target staff and trusted congregants who want to respond quickly and helpfully Because these messages appear to come from familiar leaders, they can be especially convincing. Practical Steps Churches Can Take Right Now Church leaders can significantly reduce risk by putting a few clear safeguards in place: Use Official Church Email Accounts Only Pastors and staff should communicate using official church email addresses (for example, pastor@yourchurch.org ), rather than personal Gmail or other consumer accounts. Set Clear Communication Expectations Educate staff and congregants on how pastors and leaders will—and will not—communicate. Make it clear that pastors will never  request gift cards, money transfers, or sensitive information via email or text. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) All church email accounts, especially those of pastors and administrators, should use multi-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access. Strengthen Email Security Advanced email filtering tools can help block spoofed and malicious messages before they ever reach inboxes. Encourage Cyber Awareness Remind staff and members to: Scrutinize unexpected emails or texts Avoid clicking suspicious links or attachments Use strong, unique passwords Disable unused Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections on mobile devices Mobile Devices Matter, Too Guidance from Church Mutual , a valued partner of the United Methodist Insurance Program , highlights how unsecured mobile devices can enable email compromise and impersonation—making mobile security a critical part of church cybersecurity efforts. ⁴ Training and Support for Churches Churches do not have to navigate these challenges alone. GCFA/UMC Support provides resources as part of ongoing efforts to support local ministries: Security Awareness Training : A recent webinar, Digital Stewardship: Protecting Your Church Online , offers practical guidance tailored specifically for churches. Managed IT Services : Through the General Council on Finance and Administration , local churches can access technology managed services designed for ministry settings. Technology Value Pack : The UMC Support   Tech Value Pack  provides three levels of cybersecurity protection—affordable, scalable, and built with churches in mind. Learn more at gcfa.org/tech-value-pack . Faithful Stewardship in a Digital World Protecting your church’s digital identity is not just a technical issue—it is a matter of trust, stewardship, and care for your congregation. By setting clear communication practices, strengthening security tools, and using trusted partners and resources, churches can reduce risk and respond confidently to a growing threat. If your ministry needs help securing your data and technology, we can help.   Footnotes / References Christianity Today  reporting on the rise of pastor text and email impersonation scams, including fraudulent gift card requests sent to congregants and church staff across multiple denominations and regions. MinistryWatch  analysis documenting an increase in phishing and impersonation attacks targeting churches and faith-based nonprofits, noting that clergy impersonation is a common tactic due to trust-based church environments. Regional and national news coverage  documenting clergy impersonation and gift card scams affecting churches in multiple U.S. states, demonstrating that these incidents are not isolated or localized. Church Mutual , Are Your Mobile Devices Secure Enough to Protect Client Health Information?  Guidance outlining how unsecured mobile devices can expose churches and ministries to cyber risks, including unauthorized email access, spoofing, and data compromise.

  • Apportionments Archives

    Jurisdictions 2017 2018     2019    2020       2021   2022   2023 Regional Conference 2017      2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 World Service Line Item Apportionments by Annual Conference 2019 2020 2021 2022 General Administration Line Item Apportionments by Annual Conference 2019 2020 2021   2022 Apportionments Collections by Annual Conference or Episcopal Area 2005-2020 Jurisdictional Conferences 2017-2020 Regional Conferences 2021 Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2022 Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2023 YTD March Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2023 YTD April Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2023 YTD May Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2023 YTD June Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2023 YTD July Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2023 YTD August Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2023 YTD September Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2023 YTD October Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2023 YTD November Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2023 YTD December Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2024 YTD January Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2024 YTD February Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2024 YTD March Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2024 YTD April Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2024 YTD May Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2024 YTD June Jurisdictional and Regional Conferences 2024 YTD July Jurisdictional and Regional Conference ​​ 2024 YTD August Jurisdictional and Regional Conference ​ 2024 YTD September Jurisdictional and Regional Conference 2024 YTD October Jurisdictional and Regional Conference 2024 YTD November Jurisdictional and Regional Conference ​ ​ 2024 YTD December Jurisdictional and Regional Conference General Church Apportionments Summary 2020 General Church Apportionment Summary 2021 General Church Apportionment Summary ​ 2022 General Church Apportionment Summary 2023 YTD March General Church Apportionment Summary 2023 YTD April General Church Apportionment Summary 2023  YTD May General Church Apportionment Summary 2023 YTD June General Church Apportionment Summary 2023  YTD July General Church Apportionment Summary 2023  YTD August General Church Apportionment Summary 2023  YTD September General Church Apportionment Summary 2023  YTD October General Church Apportionment Summary 2023 YTD November General Church Apportionment Summary 2023 YTD December General Church Apportionment Summary 2024 YTD January General Church Apportionment Summary 2024 YTD February General Church Apportionment Summary 2024 YTD March General Church Apportionment 2024 YTD April General Church Apportionment Summary 2024 YTD May General Church Apportionment Summary 2024 YTD June General Church Apportionment Summary 2024 YTD July General Church Apportionment Summary 2024 YTD August General Church Apportionment Summary 2024 YTD September General Church Apportionment Summary 2024 YTD October General Church Apportionment Summary 2024 YTD November General Church Apportionment Summary 2024 YTD December General Church Apportionment Summary Special Sundays and Other Collections 2022 December 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 Decembe r 2024 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024 April 2024 May 2024 June 2024 July 2024 August 2024 September 2024 October 2024 November 2024 December

  • Local Church Budget Checklist

    A faithful budget does more than cover expenses — it helps your church live into its calling. In our recent article, Putting Together a Church Budget to Accomplish Your Goals ,  we explored how vision comes before numbers, and how income, expenses, and communication should all reflect your congregation’s mission. The checklist below puts those principles into action, offering a clear, step-by-step guide to help your leadership team align resources with ministry priorities and communicate impact with both clarity and confidence. 1) Start with Vision & Mission ☐ Define your church’s  vision  — what God is calling you to accomplish this year. ☐ List your  top ministry goals  (e.g., discipleship, outreach, missions). ☐ Share goals with leadership and get agreement before budgeting. 2) Set Ministry Priorities ☐ Identify ministry areas (children, worship, missions, discipleship, staff, etc.). ☐ Ask each ministry leader to list  priority activities  for the year. ☐ Determine what funding each ministry truly needs to achieve its goals. 3) Estimate Income ☐ List all  revenue sources  (giving, rent, fundraising, grants). ☐ Review the  past several years of income  to detect trends. ☐ Adjust for  growth expectations  and community/economic changes. ☐ Note any  special events  or one-time gifts expected this year. 4) Estimate Expenses ☐ List  all expenses  needed to support ministry goals (salaries, utilities, supplies). ☐ Make sure expenses  connect to your vision  and strategic priorities. ☐ Provide  detailed line items  (not just lump sums) so it’s clear what each dollar does. ☐ Compare expenses with your projected income. 5) Balance the Budget ☐ If  expenses exceed income , revisit priorities:   • Reduce items that least impact your mission   • Postpone non-essential projects ☐ If  income exceeds expenses , decide how to use the surplus:   • Fund ministries more fully   • Build reserves or designated funds   • Invest in outreach or facility improvements 6) Build in Transparency ☐ Prepare a  budget summary  that’s easy to read (not just numbers). ☐ Explain how major giving supports ministry outcomes (story + numbers). ☐ Share the budget before final adoption with key committees or the congregation. 7) Communicate Regularly ☐ Include budget updates in  monthly Treasurer’s or Finance Reports . ☐ Provide a short narrative with numbers — explain what’s happening, not just figures. ☐ Celebrate successes (e.g., goal-related outcomes funded by giving). 8) Review and Adjust Throughout the Year ☐ Compare  actual income & expenses  against the approved budget monthly. ☐ Adjust areas where income or ministry needs change. ☐ Decide well before year-end if reserves, loans, or rebalancing ministries are needed. (Tip: schedule quarterly budget-review meetings.) Optional (but highly useful) ☐ Create  designated funds  for special initiatives with clear purpose. ☐ Build an  emergency reserve  line item to handle unexpected costs. ☐ Consider adopting  best financial practices  for internal controls (e.g., segregation of duties, policies for cash handling) — this strengthens trust and accuracy even beyond budgeting. Quick Tips ✔ A budget is more than numbers — it’s a  mission tool  that helps focus resources toward God’s calling for your church. ✔ Always involve ministry leaders — they help avoid blind spots in expense projection and accountability. ✔ Clear, stories-plus-numbers communication builds trust and generosity in your congregation.

  • Financial Well-Being as a Ministry Discipline: Why Saving Grace …. for United Methodist Pastors

    The call to pastoral ministry is rooted in trust—trust in God, trust in our connectional community and trust that the church will help pastors flourish in ministry. Even though financial well-being is increasingly correlated with holistic well-being and flourishing, many United Methodist pastors find conversations about personal finances uncomfortable, overwhelming, or quietly stressful. Student loans, housing transitions, family responsibilities, and the unique realities of itinerant ministry too often make financial well-being feel just out of reach. Saving Grace: A Guide to Financial Well-Being  disrupts that discomfort by increasing courage and confidence to address the topics of saving, earning, giving, spending, and debt in a Wesleyan culture. Biblically grounded, Saving Grace  offers practical strategies and tools for achieving a sustainable financial life. United Methodists are invited to join the movement to improve financial well-being by using this valuable resource developed by Wespath’s Clergy Financial Well-Being Initiative in partnership with the United Methodist Publishing House. Are you ready to join agency, conference and local church leaders and staff becoming “money smart stewards” and masters of our finances? What makes Saving Grace  especially meaningful is its holistic faith grounded approach to managing money. The course invites pastors to reflect on their relationship with money through a spiritual lens—acknowledging how calling, generosity, scarcity, and trust all shape financial decisions. At the same time, it offers clear, accessible guidance on budgeting, debt, saving, insurance, and planning for the future. The language is plain, the tone is compassionate, and the focus is on progress rather than perfection. Saving Grace  is not about achieving some idealized version of financial success. Instead, this thoughtfully designed resource, which includes clergy and lay workbooks, devotions, leaders guide and free worksheets plus content created specifically for United Methodist clergy, is grounded in the realities of ministry and financially healthy practices. It approaches money not as a source of shame or anxiety, but as an area where faith, stewardship, and practical wisdom meet. For pastors, financial health is not just a personal matter—it directly affects ministry. Financial stress can quietly erode energy, clarity, and joy. By contrast, greater financial stability can free pastors to lead with confidence, creativity, and presence. Saving Grace  recognizes this connection and treats financial well-being as part of faithful discipleship, not a distraction from it.  Another strength of Saving Grace  is its flexibility. Pastors can engage the material individually, with a spouse, or in a group setting with colleagues. Many clergy find that walking through the course alongside others reduces isolation and opens honest, supportive conversations that are rarely given space in ministry settings. In a church that asks much of its clergy, Saving Grace is a reminder that caring for pastors is itself an act of stewardship. It affirms that tending to financial well-being is not self-indulgent—it is responsible, faithful, and deeply aligned with the long-term health of both pastors and congregations. For United Methodist pastors seeking a realistic, grace-filled path toward financial health, Saving Grace  offers more than information. It offers encouragement, clarity, and a reminder that God’s provision can be approached thoughtfully, faithfully, and fearlessly.  Your people need your leadership and investment in your own well-being.   Buy your own personal copy of Saving Grace here . Do you have questions about the UMC's clergy financial wellness initiative? Email Brandy Bivens at bbivens@gcfa.org  with any questions.

  • You’re Invited: United in Impact Partner Meeting

    February 18, 2026 1:00pm Central | Zoom Communicators, Church leaders, and United Methodists who are passionate about stewardship, generosity, and strengthening local United Methodist Churches are invited to join an upcoming United in Impact Partner Zoom Meeting  on February 18, 2026. United in Impact  is a denomination-wide stewardship and generosity campaign designed to support and strengthen local churches by helping them connect giving directly to mission, ministry, and impact—both in their own communities and across the worldwide connection. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, the campaign provides adaptable tools and stories that churches can use in ways that fit their context, culture, and ministry priorities. This Partner Zoom Meeting will introduce the goals and structure of the campaign and walk participants through practical, ready-to-use resources created to support stewardship conversations at the local church level. Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn how these materials can be integrated into worship, small groups, leadership conversations, and ongoing discipleship. The meeting is hosted collaboratively by United Methodist Communications , Discipleship Ministries , and the General Council on Finance and Administration  reflecting a shared commitment to equipping churches with clear, trustworthy, and meaningful stewardship support. Whether you are a pastor, lay leader, communicator, or church member interested in growing a culture of generosity, this conversation is an opportunity to learn, connect, and partner together.

  • GCFA Announces, Seeks Prayers for New General Secretary

    Media Contact: Brandy M. Bivens Chief Communications Officer GCFA bbivens@gcfa.org The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Caitlin Congdon as the next General Secretary of GCFA beginning April 1, 2026, following a thoughtful and prayerful discernment process by the Search Committee and the Board of Directors. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are confident that Caitlin’s experience, vision, and collaborative spirit will guide GCFA with clarity and faithfulness in the years ahead,” said Bishop David Graves, Chairperson of GCFA’s Board of Directors. “Her deep understanding of the Church and her dedication to servant leadership equip her well for this important role.” Currently GCFA’s Chief Officer of Human Resources and Professional Development for nearly ten years, Caitlin has led the agency’s human resources work in service to the wider United Methodist connection. In her current role, she has overseen major human resources and organizational structure initiatives and provided direct HR guidance, systems, and support to more than 75 percent of annual conferences. Her leadership has emphasized equitable practices, sound governance, transparency, and innovation, helping conferences and ministries navigate complex personnel and organizational challenges. “I am grateful for the trust placed in me by GCFA’s Board of Directors,” said Congdon. “I look forward to working together across our many ministries in service to the Church, grounded in faith, collaboration, and a shared commitment to integrity and stewardship.” This leadership transition follows the retirement of the Rev. Moses Kumar after 17 years of faithful service to GCFA. The agency gives thanks for his contributions and leadership and offers prayers for God’s blessings in his next season of ministry. “Serving GCFA and The United Methodist Church has been one of the greatest honors of my ministry,” said Kumar. “I am deeply grateful for the colleagues, board members, and partners who have shared in this work over the years. I am confident in Caitlin’s leadership and pray for God’s wisdom and grace to guide her and GCFA into the future.” ### About GCFA The General Council on Finance and Administration is the financial and administrative agency of The United Methodist Church, serving the Church by promoting faithful stewardship, sound financial practices, and effective organizational leadership.

  • GCFA Update and Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Boy Scouts' Bankruptcy

    The United Methodist settlement involving the Boy Scouts of America (“BSA”) is final now that the United States Supreme Court has rejected a request to review the BSA bankruptcy case. What does that mean and what comes next? Please note that this article was updated January 14, 2026.   So, what’s the background? How did we get here?  In February 2020, BSA filed for bankruptcy protection in Delaware in response to facing a significant number of lawsuits involving allegations of child sexual abuse. According to BSA, the bankruptcy filing was intended to permit BSA to “ equitably compensate victims who were harmed during their time in Scouting and continue carrying out its mission for years to come .” Because United Methodist local churches have been one of the largest collections of chartering organizations for Scout troops, a “United Methodist Ad Hoc Committee” – consisting of several chancellors, two bishops, and two lawyers employed by GCFA – was formed to advocate for United Methodist interests within the bankruptcy proceeding. The Committee’s involvement ultimately led to a negotiated settlement, which includes a contribution by United Methodists of $30 million. In September 2022, the bankruptcy court approved  a reorganization plan for BSA that included the settlement negotiated by the Committee. While the approved plan was supported by most bankruptcy participants, the court’s ruling was appealed to the United States District Court located in Delaware. On March 28, 2023, that district court released an opinion affirming approval of the reorganization plan. Some survivors asked the United States Supreme Court to review the decision. On January 12, 2026 the US Supreme Court declined reviewing the case. What does this mean?   By declining the appeal by sexual abuse survivors who opposed the bankruptcy plan, the lower court ruling is left intact, meaning that the United Methodist settlement remains intact. What does it mean for my local Scout troop at my United Methodist church?  This specific ruling probably doesn’t mean much to the ongoing activities of Scout troops. Parallel to the bankruptcy, United Methodist leadership worked with BSA to develop relationship documents to replace the charter agreement previously used for establishing troops. The General Commission on United Methodist Men has compiled those documents, along with other helpful information, here . Anything else I should know? The United Methodist Ad Hoc Committee and its bankruptcy counsel, as well as other United Methodist leaders, are monitoring next steps for leaders and entities and will provide further updates.

  • Financial Well-Being as Faithful Stewardship: Why Clergy Need Saving Grace

    John Wesley believed deeply that the way we handle money is inseparable from our spiritual lives. His oft-quoted guidance, “ Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can” was never about accumulation for its own sake. It was about freedom: freedom from anxiety, freedom to respond generously to God’s call, and freedom to live a life ordered by love rather than fear. The Hidden Weight Clergy Carry Across denominations, studies consistently show that clergy experience higher-than-average financial stress, often compounded by student loan debt, modest compensation, and the unique realities of itinerant ministry. A National Study of Clergy Well-Being found that financial strain is one of the most common stressors affecting clergy mental, emotional, and physical health. Research  published in the Journal of Religion and Health  has linked financial anxiety among clergy to increased burnout and decreased vocational longevity. The American Psychological Association reports that financial stress is a leading contributor to anxiety and depression—conditions clergy often carry quietly while caring for others. For United Methodist clergy today, that freedom can feel increasingly difficult to attain. When financial stress goes unaddressed, it doesn’t remain isolated. It affects family systems, ministry effectiveness, and long-term sustainability in service. Why Financial Well-Being Is a Ministry Issue Clergy are called to preach, teach, and model lives of trust in God. Yet it is difficult to lead others into wholeness while privately carrying unresolved financial fear. GCFA, together with Wespath and other agencies across the denomination, are focused on clergy financial well-being to help care for those who care for others. Financial well-being allows clergy to: Make vocational decisions rooted in calling rather than crisis Engage ministry with clarity instead of chronic anxiety Model healthy stewardship for congregations Prepare responsibly for seasons of transition and retirement In short, financial well-being supports the very heart of pastoral ministry. Saving Grace: A Practical, Faith-Rooted Resource Saving Grace: A Guide to Financial Well-Being , is a resource designed to give clergy and laity the tools they need to get comfortable with the topics of saving, earning, giving, spending, and debt, along with helpful strategies for achieving a sustainable financial life. It was created specifically to meet clergy where they are—acknowledging the real financial challenges of ministry while offering practical, grace-filled tools for change. Created through Wespath’s Clergy Financial Well-Being Initiative, Saving Grace is a small-group, workbook-based program that helps clergy: Understand their financial realities with clarity and honesty Set achievable goals aligned with personal values and faith Build habits that support long-term stability and generosity Engage financial conversations without shame or judgment Rather than offering one-size-fits-all advice, Saving Grace  recognizes the distinctive context of clergy life—and speaks into it with compassion, wisdom, and theological grounding. A Connectional Commitment One of the strengths of The United Methodist Church is our connectional system. Clergy do not walk alone, and neither should they navigate financial well-being in isolation. Foundations and annual conferences may offer individualized financial education. Others partner directly with Wespath to provide additional financial education and planning support. An Invitation Forward Caring for clergy financial well-being is an act of faithful stewardship—of people, callings, and the future of the Church. If you are a clergy person seeking greater clarity, confidence, and peace around your finances: Purchase the Saving Grace  resource and consider forming or joining a small group Contact your annual conference office to learn how Saving Grace  is offered in your conference Reach out to Wespath  for additional tools, guidance, and support tailored to United Methodist clergy By tending to financial well-being with intention and grace, clergy are better equipped to live, and LEAD, into the abundant life God desires for all.

  • GCFA Hosts Administrative Training for Africa

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 21, 2023 Contact: Brandy M. Bivens 615-369-2338 bbivens@gcfa.org Nashville, Tennessee - The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) is pleased to announce the successful completion of a comprehensive training and financial update meeting for the African Regional Conferences. The event took place on August 14th at 8 a.m. Central Daylight Time and was conducted virtually, bringing together nearly 200 leaders from all over Africa. The meeting was conducted simultaneously in French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and English. To see the recording and related materials in your chosen language, please visit https://www.gcfa.org/regional-conference-training . Topics included updates on the Episcopal Fund, disaffiliation process in Jurisdictional conferences, apportionment collections and calculations, and the resources and support services available from GCFA to Central Conferences. This initiative is part of GCFA’s commitment to supporting and strengthening the financial and administrative infrastructure of The United Methodist Church. “We are so pleased to witness the enthusiasm and commitment of Church leaders in Africa who asked thoughtful, important questions,” said Moses Kumar, General Secretary of GCFA. “This training will undoubtedly contribute to the continued growth and sustainability of our Church.” GCFA remains dedicated to empowering members of The United Methodist Church with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively manage stewardship and data collection. As part of this commitment, GCFA announced at the meeting it is starting a dedicated newsletter for the Central Conferences. To subscribe, go to www.GCFA.org/subscribe . You can choose your language when you sign up. # # # # # The General Council on Finance and Administration coordinates and administers financial resources, safeguards the legal interests, and rights of the Church, and provides administrative resources to enable the fulfillment of the mission of The United Methodist Church.

  • Help Shape the Future of Our Leadership Program - Please Vote

    Local churches today face increasing complexity—financial oversight, human resources, legal compliance, and operational systems—all while maintaining vibrant ministry. To meet these challenges,  we are updating a program designed specifically for   executive and senior pastors, as well as other local church leaders , to gain  business and operations skills essential for effective church administration . Previously titled the Academy of Church Business Administration, we are seeking a revised name to accurately reflect that this is specifically for pastoral and business staff of local churches.    This initiative will provide practical training in areas such as: Finance and budgeting Human resources and staff management Risk and compliance Organizational systems and processes Our goal is to equip leaders with the tools they need to manage the administrative side of ministry confidently, so they can focus on what matters most: leading healthy, sustainable congregations.   We Need Your Input! We’ve narrowed down the rebranding options to  four strong contenders , and we’d love your feedback. Please use the poll below to share your preference and help us choose the name that resonates most with our audience:

  • The United Methodist Church in Africa and GCFA Celebrate Stewardship Quadrennial Training at Africa University

    MUTARE, ZIMBABWE – July 30, 2025  – The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) of The United Methodist Church is pleased to announce the successful completion of its Stewardship Quadrennial Training Event for the African Continent, held at Africa University on July 22–23, 2025. View the recap video here. “We want to thank GCFA for organizing this historic event, which has given us in Africa an opportunity. It is a new day for all of us to join our siblings in Christ, living into our Connection,” said Bishop Mande Muyombo, President of the African College of Bishops and Chair of The Connectional Table. “It is time now for our growth to be expressed in tangible expressions of joyful giving in order to support the mission and ministries in all contexts and around the world.” The two-day event brought together more than 115 participants representing annual conferences from across the continent. Attendees included African Bishops, treasurers, Council on Finance and Administration (CF&A) chairs, legal representatives, communicators, and annual conference secretaries. The event was born out of conversations between Bishop Mande in his role as African College of Bishops President and GCFA General Secretary Rev. Moses Kumar. “GCFA is grateful for not only the attendance of all African Bishops, but the encouragement and cooperation they gave their leaders who are faithfully committed to carrying out stewardship across their many countries,” said Rev. Moses Kumar, GCFA General Secretary. The training offered in-depth instruction on recent updates to The Book of Discipline  and emphasized best practices in stewardship, including being good stewards of finance, property, and data. Rooted in Jesus Christ, the event was marked by a spirit of worship, fellowship, learning, listening, and collaboration. Participants engaged in dynamic workshops, shared experiences, and explored strategies to strengthen the financial, administrative, and missional health of their respective conferences. The gathering was hosted at Africa University, a vital educational institution of The United Methodist Church. The university’s welcoming environment provided an ideal setting for this diverse group of leaders to grow together in knowledge and faith. "The African church is vibrant and growing, and this gathering was an opportunity to equip leaders with tools to ensure faithful stewardship and sound administrative practices," said GCFA Board of Directors Chairperson Bishop David Graves.  "The energy and commitment of those in attendance were truly inspiring, and we look forward to the fruit that will come from the seed we collectively planted throughout the Connection across Africa." In addition to skills sessions for various job roles, the Quadrennial Training Event held four plenary sessions, one of which focused on General Agency Resources for the Regional Conferences. That plenary featured speakers from Wespath Benefits, The Connectional Table, United Methodist Communications, and Discipleship Ministries. “As we return to our respective episcopal areas and annual conferences, we carry with us not just new knowledge, but a renewed confidence that the Church in Africa is not only surviving; it is flourishing. And, indeed the future of The United Methodist Church is in safe, faithful hands,” said Bishop Ande Emmanuel, Resident Bishop of Nigeria and Mission Districts of Senegal and Cameroon Episcopal Area. GCFA is committed to providing resources and training opportunities that strengthen the connectional ministries of the church worldwide. This Quadrennial Training Event continues a tradition of empowering leaders to serve with integrity and excellence. “This event was a Godsend,” said GCFA Board of Directors Regional Conferences member Pastor Francisco Bernardo Neto. “This was a trip that has changed my life.” For more information about the General Council on Finance and Administration and its ongoing work, please visit www.gcfa.org . Media Contact: Brandy Bivens Chief Communications Officer General Council on Finance and Administration Phone: 615-369-2338 Email: bbivens@gcfa.org

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