OIMC

In 2010 the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference (OIMC) local churches are expected to pay 65% of the property insurance premium which is billed to the OIMC. Property insurance includes all buildings, along with their contents, for each building on the local church property. Coverage extends to Property and Crime, General Liability, Workers Compensation, Excess Liability )Umbrella), Directors and Officers Liability and Boiler & Machinery/Equipment breakdown.

The Conference has a $5,000 deductible on each loss with the Replacement Cost Coverage. Premiums are set based on total square footage of each building at a price which is determined by the building material as set by the insurance carrier.

The Conference Council on Finance & Administration set a policy regarding the $5,000 deductible. If your church paid 100% of their invoiced property insurance premiums for the prior year, the conference Office will pay 60% ($3,000) for losses UP TO $5,000 for major losses. If your church does not pay 100% of the prior year property insurance premium and your suffer a loss UP TO $5,000, the local church will be responsible for the entire amount.

For January 2010, the Conference collected $39,000 from local churches. In order for us to make 100% of the asking for each month, we must collect $19,925. January is always our best month for collections as we have 5 to 6 churches who always pay 100% of their yearly amount, plus the regular monthly collections. We urge everyone to pay the insurance monthly. The invoice card we send out lists a minimum payment. That does not mean it has to be that amount. You can pay any amount, any time, as long as the TOTAL amount is paid each year. The Conference is invoiced for the property coverage quarterly. No matter what amount we have collected, we have to pay the quarterly payment.

The General Church apportionments and Jurisdictional apportiments which are assessed to each church each year must be paid. The OIMC is part of the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church. We are in "connectionalism" with the other conferences in the UMC. As such we are apportioned by the General Church and the Jurisdiction. Our share of monies which we must remit to the General Church is .01% of the total church asking. The Jurisdiction office sets their asking each quadrennium. Again we are assessed the very lowest amount of the other conferences in the South Central Jurisdiction.

A few years ago Bishop Hayes said, "You can't go the extra mile without going the first." He was encouraging us to pay our 100% to the General Church and Jurisdiction.

Also I would like to remind OIMC members that when a former clergy person passes away, the Conference Office needs to be notified as soon as possible to close their file at the General Board.

I would like to thank everyone for their continuing efforts to pay their apportionments and property insurance invoices 100% each year.