General Agencies

At its 2021 fall meeting, the General Council on Finance and Administration board made further cuts to the proposed denominational budget heading to the coming General Conference. Faced with the pandemic and expected denominational split, the board proposes cutting the budget by about a third starting in 2023. Photo by Mikern, courtesy of Pixabay.

Church exits, COVID lead to steep budget cuts

United Methodist financial leaders are trying to estimate what a proposed church split and ongoing pandemic mean for the denomination’s bottom line.

General Agencies

The Kern Building, owned by Discipleship Ministries and the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministries since 1950, stands like a beacon in Nashville, Tenn. The two agencies sold the building to Vanderbilt University on July 15. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Agencies sell jointly owned building

Discipleship Ministries and the United Methodist Board of Higher Education are among the most recent agencies to consolidate space following the upheavals of COVID-19.

General Agencies

During a June 25 online meeting, the General Council on Finance and Administration board voted to update local-church statistical forms to include the option of non-binary under the category of gender. This change only affects the U.S. Excerpt of the current church statistical form highlighted for emphasis by UM News.

Church to start counting non-binary members

The board of The United Methodist Church’s finance agency approved adding the term “non-binary” alongside “male” and “female” on church statistical forms. The change only affects U.S. congregations.

General Church

Gilbert C. Hanke reflects on nearly 12 years as the chief executive of United Methodist Men from his office at the agency in Nashville, Tenn. He will retire after a new leader is selected. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Hanke looks back at UM Men tenure

As he prepares for retirement, the longtime United Methodist Men leader reflects on his accomplishments, including helping thousands of men take part in weekly virtual class meetings.

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