Handling Money in the Church

People who are entrusted with handling money for the church have both ethical and legal responsibilities for careful accounting and transparent reporting while maintaining confidentiality. This is true for elected church leaders as well as church staff. The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church is specific about handling money. The people who receive and count funds should not be related to people who disburse the funds. See ¶258.4 in the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2008.

Your annual conference treasurer will help you disburse funds to the correct accounts and to complete reports. Here are some other resources to help you understand and perform your job.

Advance
The Advance is an official program of the United Methodist Church through the General Board of Global Ministriesfor voluntary, designated, second mile giving. Since 1948, the Advance has helped channel over three million gifts totaling over one billion dollars to thousands of projects and ministries around the world.

Apportionments: What are they and the ministry they support
Information about apportionaed funds is available at umc.org.

Pictures, stories, video and print resources are available for congregations at www.umcgiving.org

Electronic Giving
The United Methodist Electronic Funds Transfer Service offered by the General Commission on Finance and Administration, has been operational for several years. It allows members’ contributions to be electronically transferred from their checking or savings accounts and deposited into the church’s bank account on a steady, uninterrupted basis. This service can help your church reduce fluctuations in giving throughout the year while making it easier for your members to honor their pledges.

Special Sundays
In The United Methodist Church, we have six annual opportunities to share beyond our regular gifts through churchwide Special Sundays with offerings. When we give from the heart, we receive unexpected blessings—especially the joy of making a difference in someone’s life. For more information and special offering envelopes, go to www.umcgiving.org.