2025 Journal-Yearbook

Illinois Great Rivers Conference 2025 Journal-Yearbook

young adults to explore their faith, experience their faith, and engage their faith during their years at our IGRC campus ministries and UM-related colleges and universities. The Connectional Ministries Spending Plan Report is in another location in the Pre- Conference Workbook. Health & Welfare Agency Direct Grants - $50,000 The Connectional Ministries Health & welfare Agency Direct Grants Spending Plan Report is in another location in the Conference Workbook. Other Conference Benevolences – $49,000 Other Conference Benevolences enables each local church to extend the reach of its ministries. This includes financial support for Health and Welfare Ministries and local projects (Specialized Ministries). The fund provides direct financial assistance to worthy organizations that operate outside of the direct management of the IGRC. The Connectional Ministries Spending Plan Report is in another location in the Conference Workbook. World Service –$825,638 This is a General Church Apportionment. World Service assists the local church by enabling them to reach out with love and compassion in the name of Jesus Christ to the world’s most needy people. The Book of Discipline (¶812) proclaims that the World Service Fund, “is basic in the financial program of The United Methodist Church. The World Service apportionment represents the minimum needs of the general agencies of the Church. Payment in full of these apportionments by local churches and annual conferences is the first benevolent responsibility of the Church.” Anyone can see the World Service detailed budget, or any other General Church apportionment by going This is a General Church Apportionment. The Ministerial Education Fund assists the local church in the development of current and future clergy leaders to guide local churches in their efforts to make disciples for Jesus Christ. The Ministerial Education Fund is a General Church apportionment which is used “to enable the Church to unify and expand its program of financial support for the recruitment and education of ordained and diaconal ministers and to equip the annual conferences to meet increased demands in this area.” (Book of Discipline¶816). The largest portion of the fund goes to support the theological schools (usually, seminaries) of The United Methodist Church. However, the annual conference retains 25% of apportionment fund remitted for use by the IGRC Board of Ordained Ministry to support the education of our clergy. Africa University Fund – $25,494 This is a General Church Apportionment. The Africa University Fund provides an avenue for local churches to support Africa University in educating future leaders for the continent of Africa, bringing hope to the most desolate of circumstances. Founded in 1992, and located in Old Mutare, our apportionment giving to Africa University is extremely important with the current economic conditions in Zimbabwe. AU has managed to stay open during the worst of the economic crisis to www.gcfa.org and clicking on “reports.” Ministerial Education Fund – $285,585

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