SHARED MINISTRY/STEWARDSHIP
To: East Ohio Conference Pastors, Congregations, and Faith Communities,
Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica, “your strong faith in the Lord is like a breath of new life.” (1Thessalonians 3:8)
As we glance back at the significant changes that took place in 2023, both within our own lives and the life of the East Ohio Conference, we can only marvel at your strong faith to journey through the valley of uncertainties into a new place of possibilities. Truly, your strong faith in the Lord is like a breath of new life!
Bishop Tracy S. Malone declared this encouraging statement in her message during the first gathering in each new district: “We don ’t know what the future holds but I stand here to tell you that I have an unshakeable confidence in the One who holds the future, Jesus! What I ’m asking for us today and every day is to keep the main thing the main thing.”
In our roles as financial stewards of the East Ohio Conference, we strive to maximize our resources to help local churches, districts and the Conference truly engage in vital missions and ministry so that we keep the main thing the main thing. As part of our responsibility, we write to share financial highlights from 2023 and to tell you that we have strong faith and an unshakeable confidence as we minister in new ways in 2024.
We celebrate paying 100% of our General Church apportionments for the 19th consecutive year. Praise be to God!
We give thanks for the gift of 405 local churches that faithfully served their mission fields across the East Ohio Conference for the 12 months of 2023. We celebrate the faithful commitment of 242 of those churches that paid 100% of their apportionments last year. We also give thanks for the 87 churches that increased their giving to apportionments in 2023.
The pay-in rate from local churches to our East Ohio Conference budget was 65.3% in 2023 compared to 78.4% in 2022. The $6.4 million contributed towards the mission and ministry of East Ohio was 20% less than 2022.
We continue to be good stewards of our resources as we live into our shared vision and mission. For 2024, the Conference budget has been reduced 3.4% and local church apportionments will be the same as they were in 2023. We can hold apportionments steady only because of the funds paid by churches as part of their disaffiliation agreement. The Conference Council on Finance & Administration is committed to doing our part to resource the churches of East Ohio in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by reviewing financial trends, monitoring giving patterns and adjusting the Conference budget as needed.
As we journey together in 2024, we pray that you will be encouraged by the continued movement of God’s Spirit that guides our decisions and is at work in the transformative ministries across our East Ohio Conference that are sharing God’s love and witness to a world hungering for justice, peace, and compassion.
Your faithfulness and love for the church is a breath of new life for us all!
Be encouraged always,Rev. Dan Bryant
Chairperson, CCF&A
Vera Milanovic
Executive Director, Financial & Administrative Services
Vera Milanovic
Executive Director, Financial &
Administrative Services
Ext. 123
The East Ohio Conference Office:
located in North Canton, OH,
near Akron-Canton Airport.
Address:
8800 Cleveland Ave. NW.
North Canton, OH 44720
Phone:
(330) 499-3972
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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