Pastor's Message

Our Churches Wider Mission

Individual Member Giving
Each Sunday faithful members of our 234 congregations in the the Penn Central Conference of the United Church of Christ give tithes and offerings in their local churches.

The monies given become ministries locally and globally. How does that happen and what are the ministries provided?

Local Church Expenses
The biggest portion of monies given is retained to support the congregation's ministry and mission locally. Those monies become salaries, programs, resources, local benevolence, facilities expense, etc.

In Penn Central Conference in 2000, 91.4% of local church income was retained by local congregations (current expenses: 81.9%; capital expenditures: 6.6%; local benevolence 2.9%)

OCWM Basic Support
A part of what is given in local churches is transmitted to the Penn Central Converence office for OCWM Basic Support. In 2000, 5.2% of monies given to local churches became Basic Support. Those monies enable basic and essential ministry and mission in wider settings and are futher divided according to the budget adopted at our Conference Annual Meeting.

Conference Ministries: A portion (44.7% in our 2001-2002 budget) of what is received by the Conference from local churches is used to enable

staff to provide pastoral care to Penn Central congregations and clergy
training, spiritual development, outreach and parish life programs
resources for local churches and a center for displaying and previewing
essential administrative tasks supporting our mutual ministry
participation in ecumenical, regional and national seetings of ministry
an outdoor ministries program, especially our Hartman Center summer camping program
communication resources (monthly mailing, website, PC News, etc.a)

Denominational Ministries: Penn Central Conference has a long history and standing commitment to generously support national and global ministries of our United Church of Christ (49.5% of our 2001-2002 budget is designated for denominational ministries). Our money is combined with contributions from congregations in 38 other conferences and with income from national endowments to enable mutual ministries, including

missionaries to work in partner churches around the world
specialists to create resources for local churches (church school curriculum, worship, stewardship, evangelism, etc.)
advocacy and resources for the weak and powerless in our society and for bringing Christian truth and value to governmental policies
search and call materials and processes for times of pastoral transition in local churches
the development of partnerships and collegial relationships with other christian bodies and councils

Extended Ministries: A portion of our Conference budget is designated for extended and ecumenical ministries (5.8% in 2001-2002). These ministries add still more fullness to the life and witness of local churches. They include support of the ministries of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, Lancaster Theological Seminary, various local and regional ecumenical bodies, and participation in General Synod and other consultations.

OCWM Special Support
Money from members and local churches is also requested for 4 all church offerings, institutional support and special disaster appeals, In 2000, 3.4% of monies received from local churches went to such special support.

Special support is part of Our Churches Wider Mission (OCWM) but is not Basic Support. Is it often received in local churches also as additional support, through special appeals/envelopes above and beyond regular giving.

Penn Central churches respond generously to disaster appeals and in ongoing support of health and human service ministries in our area. We also are leaders in support of the all church offerings (One Great Hour of Sharing, Strengthen the Church, Neighbors in Need, The Christmas Fund).

Penn Central Conference Mission Statement
The Penn Central Conference Mission Statement guides and governs our mutual ministry.

The statement identifies the reason for our existence (we are called by God), the source of our strength (we are empowered by the Holy Spirit), and the purpose of our ministry (we are to serve God by proclaiming and prefiguring the reign of God in Christ). The statement also identifies that we bind ourselves in covenant in order to be and to do what God expects.

Penn Central Conference Mission Statement: Called by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve in the world, we, Penn Central Conference of the Unived Church of Christ, covenant to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ by embodying Christ's love in and through our ministry, enabling Christ's ministry in and through local congregations extending Christ's mission in and through the larger Church.

OCWM (Our Churches Wider Mission) is a tangible expression of that covenant.

OCWM enables a visible witness to the world that we are, together: God's people, Christ's disciples, & members of the Church.

Thank you for your partnership. Thank you for your support. Praise be to God.

Penn Central Conference
United Church of Christ
Fall 2001