Feb. 2, 2016
Dear Pastors and Church Members,
Thank you for your commitment and for your accomplishment in paying 100% of your apportionments in 2015! As you know, our apportionments are used to support vital ministries across our conference, nation, and world as well as important benevolence and mission projects of the General Church and Annual Conference. Your church, along with 46 other churches in our Big Waters District, kept this convenant. Thank you and may God continue to bless your congregation. Please share and celebrate with your congregation the enclosed Certificate of Appreciation recognizing your excellence in giving. Churches like yours, who communicate to their members the difference we make in people’s lives through our apportionments, as helping people see the joy of giving and the power of uniting across our denomination to heal hurts and spread the hope of Christ’s love in action.
This past year, 47 of the 59 congregations in the Big Waters District paid 100% of their connectional giving (apportionments). In 2013, 44 of 59 gave 100%. The 2015 apportionment giving in the Big Waters District was up 2% over last year! We reached 89.49%! (In 2013 it was 87.57%, and in 2012 it was 86.4%). I particularly celebrate that this level of giving was achieved in addition to your pledges to our Reach, Renew and Rejoice campaign as well as the generous giving you do to other initiatives in your local church. As Minnesota United Methodists, we are truly blessed and reaching out to be a blessing! I hope you’ll share with other congregations who struggle to make their apportionments, the creative ideas and motivation you have in fulfilling this covenant so that next year we will continue seeing increases across all our districts.
In the United Methodist church, apportioned funds are what enable United Methodists to do ministry together. You have supported the connectional staff members who provide the leadership throughout the state and throughout our denomination. Apportionments help provide health insurance to retired clergy. They help start new faith communities, and enable churches to turn around ministries that have diminished throughout the years. Apportionments, along with your prayers and works of mercy, help keep the vital Wesleyan connection a sacred bond of mission in the United States and all around the world!
Thank you again for “leading with generosity!” I praise God for your faithful giving that allows us to reach new people, cultivate spiritual vitality and heal a broken world. Together, God is using us to bless the world in Christ’s name.
With deep gratitude,
Susan Nienaber
Big Waters District Superintendent