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The Book of Discipline  states that the UMC Cross and Flame may be used by official United Methodist agencies, including local churches, “to identify United Methodist work, programs and materials.” This means the symbol is reserved for ministries and organizations that are officially part of The United Methodist Church. By ensuring the Cross and Flame is used properly, we preserve its meaning and protect its role as a trusted mark of our shared witness in the world.

Exploring the Pros and Cons of Using a Facebook Page or Group for Your Ministry Social media platforms have become valuable tools for congregations to connect, engage, and share information with their communities. In recent years, many churches have embraced the power of social media to reach a wider audience and foster a sense of online community. Facebook, one of the most popular platforms, offers two primary options for churches to establish an online presence: a Facebook page and a Facebook group. In this article, we will delve into the pros and cons of utilizing each option to help your ministry enhance its online outreach strategy. Facebook Page A Facebook page is essentially a public profile that allows your ministry to create an official presence on the platform. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using a Facebook page: Pros: 1. Wide Reach: Facebook pages provide an excellent platform to engage with a broader audience, both within and outside your congregation. Users can easily discover the page through search engines, and anyone can access the content without requiring membership or approval. 2. Analytics and Insights: Facebook provides in-depth analytics and insights for pages, enabling you to track engagement, reach, and demographics of your audience. This data can help in refining content strategy, understanding community preferences, and improving outreach efforts. 3. Advertising Capabilities : Pages have access to Facebook's advertising tools, allowing your ministry to promote events, share inspirational messages, or reach specific target groups within your community. Paid promotions can help expand the reach and visibility of your church's message. Cons: 1. Limited Interaction: Facebook pages primarily facilitate one-way communication, with your ministry posting updates and content while followers can comment, like, and share. However, direct interaction among followers may be limited, hindering the development of a strong sense of community. 2. Algorithmic Reach : Facebook's algorithm determines what content is shown to users based on their engagement patterns. This means that not all page followers will see every post, potentially reducing the visibility and impact of important announcements or messages. Facebook Group A Facebook group provides a more intimate and interactive online space for congregations to connect and engage. Here are the pros and cons of using a Facebook group for your ministry: Pros: 1. Community Building : Facebook groups excel at fostering a sense of community and connection among members. Groups can facilitate discussions, prayer requests, Bible studies, and other interactive activities that encourage engagement and relationship-building amongst your congregation. 2. Enhanced Interaction: Unlike pages, groups allow for more direct interaction among members. Individuals can post, comment, and react to each other's content, enabling real-time conversations, support, and collaboration. 3. Member Privacy and Control: Groups offer greater control over who can join and participate in discussions. Your church can create closed or private groups, limiting access to members only, ensuring a more secure environment for sensitive or personal discussions. Cons: 1. Limited Visibility: Unlike pages, Facebook groups are less discoverable through search engines. To join a group, individuals typically need an invitation or must request to join. This limited visibility may impact your ability to reach new members or those outside your congregation. 2. Administrative Responsibilities : Managing a Facebook group requires active moderation to ensure discussions remain respectful, on-topic, and align with your ministry’s values. Administrators need to monitor content regularly and respond to member inquiries or concerns. Both Facebook pages and groups offer unique advantages and challenges for churches seeking an online presence. Facebook pages are excellent for establishing a professional image, reaching a wide audience, and leveraging analytics for data-driven strategies. On the other hand, Facebook groups prioritize community building, interactive discussions, and fostering a sense of belonging. Ultimately, you should carefully consider your ministry’s goals, target audience, and desired level of interaction to determine whether a Facebook page, a Facebook group, or a combination of both is the most effective approach for your online outreach efforts. Do you need a full strategic plan for communications? Want an honest assessment of your current communications? GCFA Communications and Marketing department serves as communication staff for several ministries - yours can be next. Contact Connectional Relations at ConnectionalRelations@gcfa.org to get started today!

Understanding Local Church SEO Written by SEO expert, Rodney Bowen from Bowen Digital Hundreds of thousands of people in the United States search ‘churches near me’ every month. Imagine individuals and families in your city searching Google for ‘churches near me’ to immediately see your church’s website appear in the search results. After all, your community members are already using the internet to find almost everything else they need. So - how does a church get its website to appear after users in your local market submit their Google search? Local Church SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for Churches Search Engine Optimization (SEO) makes your church website more visible to your local community by helping them find and discover more about your church online. Visualize the internet as a giant library and Google as the librarian. Now, consider your church’s website as a book in this massive library. As a new book enters the library, the librarian reviews the book to correctly categorize it, so the new book may be added to the catalog and placed within the appropriate location of the library based on the book’s subject. Similarly, search engine optimization helps the librarian (Google) know more about the content on your church’s website pages. The search engine then can add the website into the appropriate location of its library of indexed pages. Google may then quickly present your website to your local community members searching for information related to your website. How SEO Equips Churches to Take the Lead Google deploys robots across the internet to crawl millions & millions of website pages. These robots work to find, identify, and categorize the content on every website page. After the robots define all the information, Google records the findings and saves the website page within its index (a library of web pages). The SEO process empowers & equips churches to intentionally position keyword-related and location content within the pertinent areas of the website page (e.g. page title, headers, body text, image alt tags, & more) to better educate and help the robots crawl & define the content to be filed into the Google’s library of indexed web pages. Then when someone searches for something, like ‘churches near me,’ Google looks through its library of website pages; and within milliseconds, the search engine selects and displays the best website pages related to the person’s search. Why Should Churches Care About SEO? Well, it’s simple. When people search for churches, local-community events, or even spiritual guidance, SEO can help your church's website be one of the first things they see. By leveraging the power of SEO, your church may better connect with your community and for those individuals and families looking for a church to call home. Does your ministry’s website need a refresh? Do you need help getting a better ranking on Google and other search engines? Contact the experts at UMC Support.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brandy Bivens Chief Communications Officer General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) of The United Methodist Church Nashville, TN  – The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) of The United Methodist Church is pleased to announce that the 2025–2028 United Methodist Church Budget Handbook (formerly the Financial Commitment Booklet) is now available in six languages— English , French , Korean , Portuguese , Spanish , and Swahili . This comprehensive resource provides an overview of the General Church budget approved by the 2024 General Conference, including details on connectional giving and the allocation of funds that support worldwide ministries of The United Methodist Church. “By making the Budget Handbook accessible in multiple languages, GCFA continues to support the Church’s global connection and commitment to transparency,” said Rev. Moses Kumar, General Secretary of GCFA. “We want leaders across all regions of the denomination to have access to financial information that strengthens stewardship and accountability throughout the connection.” The translated versions of the Budget Handbook are available for download on the GCFA website at www.gcfa.org/reports  under the General Church Budget section . In addition, GCFA released the third quarter 2025 General Church financial update  in video format in October, providing a clear and concise overview of the denomination’s financial health and apportionment collections to date. Through both the multilingual Budget Handbook and the quarterly financial video, GCFA continues to serve the denomination by ensuring that financial information is transparent, accessible, and relevant to United Methodists around the world.

Agenda NAACT Agenda ​ Presentations Key Note Presentation General Conference Investment Committee GCFA Presentation 2018 Administry Presentation 2021 Trustee Training For The District 2021 Finance Training for Amory St James 2022 First Time Appointee 2022 Clergy Transitional Workshop 2023 Finance Training For District Events 2023 First Time Appointee 2023 Trustee Training 2023 NAACT Presentation Wespath NAACT Presentation ​ Letters 2021 Year End Letter Pastor Letter 12/1/2021 Treasurer Letter 12/20/2022 Pastor Letter 4/1/2023 Pastor Letter 8/31/2023 ​ Sponsor Links Gcfa.org Greatspirit.com Interfaith.org Steeplecom.com Vancopayments.com

The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) has meticulously compiled the United Methodist Church Budget Handbook, previously known as the Financial Commitment Booklet. This comprehensive document is a compilation of budgetary items passed by the General Conference in 2024. It outlines the financial commitments and allocations that will be enacted over the next four years, providing a clear and transparent roadmap for our collective financial stewardship. View the Handbook in Other Languages French Korean Portuguese Spanish Swahili

You don’t need an IT degree to protect your church online. With a few consistent habits, your congregation can greatly reduce its risk of becoming the next victim of a cyberattack. Here are five actions that even the smallest church can start today to stay cyber-secure. 1. Think Twice Before Clicking If an email seems urgent, surprising, or out of character—pause. Verify the sender by calling or texting them directly. One quick check can prevent disaster. 2. Use Strong Passwords + Multi-Factor Authentication Passwords should be long, unique, and not reused across sites. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra step—like a text code—to confirm it’s really you. 3. Limit Permissions Give access based on roles, not convenience. Volunteers don’t need admin access to financial records, and staff accounts should be separated. 4. Back Up Data Regularly and Securely Use both cloud and offline backups. Store at least one copy disconnected from your main system so ransomware can’t reach it. 5. Train and Test Your Team Make cybersecurity training part of your yearly rhythm. Send test “phishing” emails to keep awareness high. Encourage a culture of “ask before you click.” Bonus Tip: Review your policies for staff transitions—disable old accounts immediately when volunteers or employees leave. Every congregation depends on technology to manage giving, communication, and live streaming. Treat cybersecurity as digital hospitality—keeping your online doors open for ministry while protecting those who enter. Need a partner to help build your church’s digital defenses? UMC Support IT offers services that keep your systems secure so you can focus on ministry. Fill out this form: https://www.gcfa.org/getsupport to start working with our IT professionals today.

Nashville, TN – The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) of The United Methodist Church is proud to announce Wesleyan Impact Partners as an official Ministry Partner. This collaboration highlights a shared commitment to equipping United Methodist congregations and leaders with the tools and resources needed to strengthen ministry and grow impact. Wesleyan Impact Partners helps churches and leaders flourish through a cycle of generosity that sustains ministry for the long term. Their services include Impact Certificates for individual and congregational investment, loans for new construction and church expansion, and philanthropic tools such as gift planning and endowments. They also nurture leadership and innovation through initiatives like the Igniting Imagination podcast and the Locke Innovative Leader Award.  Rev. Lisa Greenwood, President & CEO, Wesleyan Impact Partners, said: " Wesleyan Impact Partners is a financial and leadership ministry partner to the Church. Everything we do is to empower the Church to be its strongest witness today and long into the future. We are grateful to partner with GCFA to serve the needs of its growing community. "   Rev. Moses Kumar, General Secretary of GCFA, said: “The mission of GCFA is to faithfully steward the resources of the Church so that our ministries can thrive. Partnering with Wesleyan Impact Partners allows us to extend that mission by connecting United Methodist congregations and leaders with trusted financial tools that sustain growth, innovation, and discipleship. Together, we are strengthening the connection and resourcing ministries to make a lasting impact in the world.”  This partnership underscores GCFA’s commitment to providing professional services that support the denomination while aligning with Wesleyan Impact Partners’ vision of creating a cycle of generosity that strengthens the mission of the Church. To learn more about how congregations and individuals can participate in these opportunities, visit wesleyanimpactpartners.org .    About GCFA The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) of The United Methodist Church provides stewardship, administrative, and financial services to support the connectional ministries of the Church. About Wesleyan Impact Partners Wesleyan Impact Partners is a national nonprofit fueled by impact investors, borrowers, and donors who invest in ministries and innovative leaders courageously doing God's work, empowering a cycle of generosity and helping bring about thriving congregations and flourishing communities. Throughout its 55-plus-year history, Wesleyan Impact Partners has made thousands of loans empowering churches across the United States to pursue their God-sized dreams while also lifting up the work of courageous spiritual entrepreneurs across the Wesleyan Ecosystem through the nationally recognized Locke Innovative Leader Award and its thought leadership in the Igniting Imagination® podcast. Our work is made possible through partnerships across the country with impact-focused investors, donors, and Methodist foundations. Based in Austin, Texas, the organization is led by President & CEO Rev. Lisa Greenwood, who is also President & CEO of Texas Methodist Foundation. To learn more, visit https://wesleyanimpactpartners.org .

Your church’s email is often the front door for cyber threats. Knowing the most common risks can help you shut that door before trouble walks in. Phishing Fake messages pretending to be someone you know. 🚩  Look for:  Urgent requests, odd links, sender typos. Malware Harmful software hidden in attachments. 🚩  Look for:  Unexpected PDFs or ZIP files from unknown senders. Spoofing Imitating a trusted email address or domain. 🚩  Look for:  Slightly misspelled addresses or unusual tone. Ransomware Locks your files and demands payment to restore them. 🚩  Look for:  Warnings about encrypted files or ransom notes. Social Engineering Emotional manipulation to trick you into acting quickly. 🚩  Look for:  Messages that pressure you to “help now.” Stay alert. Verify before you click. Need help protecting your church’s email systems? Visit https://www.gcfa.org/technology-support-services Download a printable infographic of this information and share it with your church leadership and volunteers.

Every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month serves as a reminder that our online spaces are just as important to safeguard as our sanctuaries and fellowship halls. While churches focus on ministry, worship, and mission, the digital side of church life—emails, online giving, live streaming, and member databases—often goes unprotected. If you think your church is too small to be a target, think again. Cybercriminals are increasingly turning to nonprofit and faith-based organizations, which they see as “soft targets.” The Rising Threat to Churches Nearly 43% of cyberattacks in North America  now target ministries and nonprofits ( MinistryWatch ). The LockBit ransomware group recently claimed responsibility for a breach at Relentless Church in South Carolina ( The Record ). The CyberPeace Institute ranks nonprofits as the second most targeted sector  globally for nation-state attacks ( CyberPeace Institute ). For churches, an attack doesn’t just mean lost data—it can compromise donor trust, disrupt ministry operations, and expose confidential information about your members. Why Churches Are Vulnerable Limited budgets, volunteer-managed systems, and a mix of personal and church-owned devices all contribute to increased risk. Even a single compromised account can lead to stolen funds or ransomware locking down your computers and livestream systems. The Ministry Impact Cybersecurity isn’t just about technology—it’s about protecting your ministry's integrity . When church staff or members receive fraudulent emails “from the pastor” asking for money, trust erodes. When giving systems go down, ministry slows. Take Action This Month Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect time to: Audit your passwords and enable multi-factor authentication. Train your team to spot phishing emails. Backup your files and test your backups. Reach out for expert help if you’re unsure where to start. 🛡️  UMC Support IT can help your church safeguard its digital ministry. Learn more or request a consultation at https://www.gcfa.org/technology-support-services

Download free Pastor Appreciation graphics and invite your congregation to celebrate your pastor’s faithful service.

If your ministry has received a grant this year or is planning to accept or apply for a grant, GCFA encourages you to review all the terms and conditions, taking special care with any grants involving federal funds . Since March of 2025,  The  United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) has been amending their standard terms and conditions applicable to all grants issued by DHS and its constituent agencies, including FEMA and the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, the Public Assistance Grant (Disaster Recovery), the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.      Some of the changes to the grant terms relate to immigration enforcement participation, prohibitions against diversity, equity and inclusion ,  and compliance with all other Presidential Executive Orders. If your application occurred before March of this year, please know the date of the actual award controls, not the date of the grant application.     Some aspects of these terms were challenged by some states in court in the case  Illinois v. FEMA . On September 24, 2025 ,  The US District Court in Rhode Island issued a permanent injunction related to some terms ,  but the outcome of that case will only impact those in the lawsuit. Those states include: Illinois, California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.  An appeal is possible. This means terms might be different in different places ,  and change depending on the issuing agency.   United Methodist ministries should exercise discernment and caution when accepting grants, especially when dealing with new terms and conditions like these.  Ministries should thoroughly evaluate whether any grant terms might, explicitly or implicitly, dictate or restrict religious activities or determine the scope of ministry. Ministries are therefore encouraged to seek guidance from legal counsel and to reflect on how the terms of the grant could impact ministry.   While GCFA does not advise individual churches, we do want to issue information that may be helpful. As always, we encourage individual ministries to rely upon their own legal counsel.