News

1/19/2013

  By GLENN HANNIGAN    The good news on apportionments for 2012: The percentage of payments continues to increase. The bottom line: Overall giving is down a bit.     But that is to be expected says North Georgia Conference Treasurer Keith Cox.     “CFA has made the effort to reduce the Conference budget in recent years,” said Cox. “So most of the churches who had paid 100 percent in the past are still paying 100 percent but on a smaller budget amount. We are receiving a good percentage of ...

12/17/2012

Emory University's Candler School of Theology has received a $250,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to develop a model curriculum for improving the financial literacy of its students.  "We're thrilled to partner with Lilly Endowment to help our students learn to navigate the ever-changing financial landscape,"says Jan Love, dean of Candler.  "Candler wants to prepare the next generation of clergy to make wise financial decisions that will alleviate debt, strengthen their administrative and ...

12/17/2012

The General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church has recently arranged with office supply retailer Staples to provide United Methodist churches and organizations with preferred pricing and discounts on purchases. In addition, one percent of all purchases will go to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief. To sign up, visit http://www.staplesadvantage.com/UnitedMethodists.

12/14/2012

Would you like your members to leave a legacy to your church for future generations? It starts with building a church endowment, and the Georgia United Methodist Foundation can help. We can walk you through each step. Join us for a 45-minute interactive webinar each month for 12 months, and we will help you design and implement your customized legacy program. New webinars are beginning in January, April, July and October of 2013. Space is limited so contact Nancy Young Hruschka at 678-708-6601...

12/10/2012

The North Georgia Conference Treasurer, Keith Cox, has been named a member of the denomination's Economic Advisory Committee. The committee reports to the General Council on Finance and Administration. The EAC brings together economists, financial experts, researchers, and church leaders from across the country to discuss economic matters related to United Methodism, and the quantitative study of religion. The work of the committee is an important component of the church’s quadrennial budget ...

11/27/2012

Starting Nov. 27, the North Georgia Conference is offering churches the option to make apportionment, special offering and benefits payments online. Funds can be drawn from any bank account by submitting an online remittance form through NGUMC Data Services. Payments will be processed through Suntrust Bank's Online ePay Manager System. Three North Georgia churches volunteered to test the process and have successfully used the system for several months leading up to opening the option to all ...

11/27/2012

Several ministries in the North Georgia Conference are participating in the inaugural Georgia Gives Day on Dec. 6, 2012.  Ministries include Camp Glisson, Action Ministries, Foundation of Wesley Woods, and The United Methodist Children's Home. Georgia Gives day is a new initiative in the state to raise awareness and charitable giving.  How you can help: Let folks in your church know about Georgia Gives Day via email, newsletter, and bulletin.  Many of your congregation will hear about it at ...

11/27/2012

The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2013 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2013, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be: •   56.5 cents per mile for business miles driven •   24 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes •   14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable ...

11/16/2012

Churches throughout North Georgia and across the country thank and recognize their donors regularly--both as an act of Christian stewardship and so that the giver is eligible for an IRS charitable deduction. A recent court case brought by Christian donors against the IRS has called attention to the fact that not all church acknowledgements meet IRS guidelines. To make sure your church is in full compliance, the Georgia United Methodist Foundation shares the following article on its website: “...