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Are you ready to add a festive touch to your Thanksgiving celebrations? Look no further! We're thrilled to offer you a fantastic collection of FREE Thanksgiving graphics that will take your holiday spirit to the next level.

Nashville, Tennessee – The Connectional Relations Team of the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) has added Behr Paint Company as its newest ministry partner. Behr Paint Company is one of the largest manufacturers of paints, primers, decorative finishes, stains, surface preparation, and application products for do-it-yourselfers and professionals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Founded in 1947, Behr Paint is dedicated to meeting the project needs of professionals with an unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and value. Behr now provides special discounts to churches and other United Methodist entities and is committed to serving ministry projects in our denomination. “Behr Paint Company is excited to work with the General Council on Finance & Administration (GCFA) for The United Methodist Church (UMC),” said John Seidensticker, Executive Vice President of Sales at Behr Paint Company. “As America’s Most Trusted Paint Brand*, Behr is proud to offer high-quality products and cost-effective solutions for UMC members, with the lowest price per gallon on top-rated BEHR® Paint, Stains & Primers, guaranteed. We look forward to working alongside UMC members to create vibrant and inspiring environments for the community.” The new partnership with Behr further compliments other ministry partners who work to enhance ministry properties. Behr works in conjunction with GCFA’s current ministry partner, The Home Depot, to offer discounts on paints, stains, and primers for do-it-yourselfers and professionals. Kellie Schmeal, Relationship Director at GCFA said, "Expanding our network of ministry partners is an integral part of our mission to empower United Methodist churches and affiliated organizations in their endeavors. Welcoming Behr to our esteemed roster of partners signifies a significant step forward in our shared commitment to bolstering ministries and their essential work." *Ranked most trusted paint brand based on the 2023 Lifestory Research study. To learn more about the Ministry Partner program, visit the GCFA Partner page, or contact the Connectional Relations team at ConnectionalRelations@gcfa.org or 866-367-4232.

Strengthening Church’s Cybersecurity with GCFA’s Security Awareness Service In today's digitally driven world, cybersecurity is more critical than ever. With the rise in cyber threats, ministries are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks such as phishing and ransomware. The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) and our ministry service brand, UMC Support, recognize the need for robust cybersecurity solutions tailored to the unique needs of churches within the Connection. To address this need, UMC Support is proud to offer a comprehensive security awareness service to safeguard your congregation's digital assets. Why Cybersecurity Matters for Churches Churches store sensitive information such as member data, financial records, and confidential communications— valuable data that can be a prime target for cybercriminals. Because cyberattacks can disrupt church operations, damage reputation, and lead to significant financial losses, protecting this information should never be just a matter of compliance. It’s a moral and ethical obligation to safeguard the trust of your congregation! UMC Support’s Security Awareness Service: Key Features 1. Initial Setup and Configuration: We help you set up and configure the cybersecurity platform, ensuring that it aligns with your ministry's specific needs. 2. Administrator Account Creation: We assist in creating administrator accounts to manage and monitor your ministry's cybersecurity program effectively. 3. Email Security Configuration: Our experts provide guidance on configuring email security to protect against phishing and other email-based threats. 4. Training and Awareness Campaigns: We offer annual foundational training campaigns, remedial training campaigns, and quarterly phishing campaigns to educate and prepare your congregation against cyber threats. 5. Continuous Support: Our team is here to support you throughout the year, providing assistance and guidance as needed. Affordable Pricing UMC Support offers competitive pricing for this service, ensuring that it remains accessible to churches of any size! Our pricing structure is designed to meet the unique needs of your congregation, with options for annual billing and attractive discounts for longer-term commitments. Additionally, we understand the financial constraints faced by many churches. That's why we offer non-profit discounts and competitive upgrade options, making it easier for you to protect your church's digital assets without straining your budget. Get Started Today Protecting your church's digital assets is an ongoing process, and the time to start is now. Our service not only safeguards your congregation but also upholds the trust and integrity of your church's mission. Are you ready to take your security awareness to the next level? Contact UMC Support to get started today! Email ConnectionalRelations@gcfa.org or call us at 866-367-4232.

October is Pastor Appreciation Month! Are you ready to honor and celebrate your amazing church leaders? Show your appreciation in style with our free, specially designed graphics and make this month extra special for your pastors and church leaders.

Are you looking to establish sound financial practices within your ministry or church? Do you want to ensure that your reimbursement policies are transparent, accountable, and align with best practices? Check out an enlightening webinar on "Accountable Reimbursement Policies for Ministries and Churches" and take a significant step towards financial excellence! Need More Legal Information For Your Ministry?

Nashville, Tennessee – In its constant pursuit of providing discounts and programs to help the ministries of The United Methodist Church, the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) has added Foundry Commercial as its newest ministry partner. Foundry, a full-service real estate services and investment company, intentionally intertwines faith and business while maximizing efficiency. Recognized as the national leader for Religious, Education, and Non-Profit commercial real estate, Foundry can work with local United Methodist churches to align their church properties with their ministries. Foundry Commercial has previously worked with other United Methodist Organizations, including the East Ohio, Florida, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Tennessee-Western Kentucky, and West Ohio Annual Conferences, along with GCFA and United Methodist Men. “Having assisted ministries in stewarding their real estate throughout the country for more than 50 years, we know there are nuances and potential stumbling blocks for any church or denomination that is considering buying or selling real estate,” said Matt Messier, SIOR, CCIM, who leads Foundry’s Religious, Education, and Non-Profit practice. “We would be honored to partner with any of the United Methodist ministries to lend our experience and market knowledge with the ultimate goal of helping leverage ministry efficiency and opportunities for our clients.” GCFA runs an extensive ministry program, building relationships with vendors and businesses outside of the United Methodist Connection in an effort to provide vetted services by these entities whose social principles align with the denomination’s. Property solutions, discount programs, group purchasing, and more are all a part of the Ministry Partner Program. Kellie Schmeal, Relationship Director at GCFA said, "This collaboration exemplifies our steadfast dedication to nurturing the growth of local churches and United Methodist organizations. Through our Ministry Partner Program, we unite with dynamic businesses like Foundry to fuel impactful ministry initiatives." To learn more about GCFA’s ministry partnership with Foundry Commercial, visit https://www.gcfa.org/foundry-commercial or call 407-540-7789. GCFA’s Ministry Partner program was created with the vision of providing service and connection to our denomination. To learn more about the Ministry Partner program, visit the GCFA Partner page: https://www.gcfa.org/partners/, or contact the Connectional Relations team at ConnectionalRelations@gcfa.org or call 866-367-4232.

Writing a press release for a ministry involves conveying important information to the public in a concise and compelling manner. Whether you're announcing a new initiative, an event, a policy change, or any other ministry-related news, following these steps can help you craft an effective press release: 1. Start with a Strong Headline: Create a clear and attention-grabbing headline that summarizes the main message of the press release. Keep it concise, informative, and engaging. 2. Write a Compelling Lead (Opening Paragraph): In the first paragraph, provide the most essential details of the announcement. Answer the classic journalistic questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Make sure to convey the significance of the news upfront. 3. Provide Supporting Details: In the following paragraphs, expand on the key points of the announcement. Include relevant facts, statistics, quotes, and explanations. Use this space to highlight the benefits and importance of the ministry's actions. 4. Include Quotes: Incorporate quotes from ministry officials or relevant individuals to add a human element to the press release. Quotes can provide insights, opinions, and context that help readers connect with the news. 5. Highlight Background Information: If necessary, offer background information about the ministry's goals, previous accomplishments, and ongoing efforts. This helps provide context for readers who might not be familiar with the ministry's work. 6. Add Relevant Details: Include information such as event dates, times, locations, registration details (if applicable), and any other relevant logistics. 7. Use Clear and Concise Language: Write in a straightforward and easily understandable manner. Avoid jargon or overly technical language that might confuse readers. 8. Keep It Succinct: A press release is typically one page long. If it exceeds this length, you risk losing the reader's interest. Focus on the most critical information. 9. Include Contact Information: Provide contact details (name, email, phone number) of a spokesperson or media relations representative who can address any inquiries from journalists. 10. End with a Strong Conclusion: Summarize the main points and reiterate the significance of the announcement in the concluding paragraph. 11. Use the Boilerplate: Conclude the press release with a brief paragraph about the ministry itself. This "boilerplate" provides essential information about the ministry's mission, vision, and key activities. 12. Add ### or "End" to Indicate Conclusion: After the boilerplate, include the ### symbol or the word "End" centered at the bottom of the page to signal the end of the press release. 13. Formatting and Presentation: Use a clear and professional font, consistent formatting, and ensure that the press release is easy to read. Consider adding the ministry's logo at the top for brand recognition. 14. Proofread and Edit: Review the press release for grammar, spelling, and clarity errors. Make sure the information is accurate and properly presented. 15. Distribute the Press Release: Send the press release to relevant media outlets, journalists, and online distribution platforms. You can also post it on the ministry's official website and social media channels. Remember that the goal of a press release is to communicate news objectively and effectively. By following these steps, you can create a well-structured and informative press release for your ministry's announcements.

In the midst of chaos, these clergy members found a sanctuary of reflection and revival. The Clergy Wellness Retreat 2022 brought together a diverse community, all seeking to recenter their souls. Explore the lessons learned and the dynamic five pillars of wellness that fueled their journey!

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 Central 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/central-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.

PRESS RELEASE General Council on Finance and Administration FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 18, 2023 Contact: Brandy M. Bivens 615-369-2338 bbivens@gcfa.org GCFA Reports Medical Costs Savings; Board of Directors Approve Employees Benefits for General Agencies, Episcopal Salaries Nashville, Tennessee – The Board of Directors of the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) met virtually on Friday, August 18, 2023, to discuss and approve several key recommendations related to employee benefits for the General Agencies of The United Methodist Church (GAUMC). The meeting resulted in decisions aimed at enhancing the well-being of employees and optimizing healthcare costs within the organization. For 2024, the Board approved a minimal increase at 0.6% of the health and welfare plans, resulting in no increase to employee participant’s premiums. The Board also approved a recommendation to bundle dental and vision insurance with the medical plan, resulting in cost savings for both of those benefits. The decrease in medical costs in 2023 from 2022 was a remarkable decrease of 22.2%. This decrease can be attributed to wellness programs effectively implemented by GAUMC, which represents an estimated savings of more than $126,000 on medical claims. The Board also approved a 5% adjustment to the salary scale for GAUMC employees starting next year. This religious nonprofit market-based adjustment is to the salary scale only and does not automatically create individual salary increases, as salaries of agencies are set by the individual agencies themselves. This increase to the salary scale brings GAUMC closer inline, although still behind, the religious nonprofit market, to accommodate inflation and other economic factors. The Board also set the amounts for the 2024 Episcopal salaries, which will see a 2% increase in the Jurisdictional and Central Conferences. Episcopal office and housing allowances next year remain the same. 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. To learn more about UMC Support, sign up for our monthly newsletter, The Collaborator or visit www.gcfa.org/services/.

Thanks to the tech experts at UMC Support, part one of our Cybercrime webinar taught ministries how to recognize red flags around internet scams and how to protect against ransomware. Check out Cybercrime Part II with insurance expert Jeff Koch from United Methodist insurance - what to do if you are a victim. Need Technology Services For Your Ministry?

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.