2007 Giving of OIMC Churches Surpasses Previous Year!

The giving of OIMC churches to apportionments and property insurance once again surpassed the previous year, said Rev. David Wilson, Conference Superintendent.

“The Conference leadership is so pleased with the giving as we are reminded that local churches have worked hard to pay our connectional giving and to care for our own properties,” Wilson said.

86 % was paid for apportionments compared to 83% in 2006. Also, 89% was paid for property insurance compared to 84% in 2006. This year is the last year that the property insurance will be raised five percent.

In 2008, local churches will pay fifty percent of the premiums while the conference pays the other fifty percent.

OIMC is waiting for the final allocations from the General Council on Finance and Administration before determining whether or not the 2007 budget was met. “Right now we are about $10,000 off from meeting the budget,” Wilson said. “We had to pay for some additional costs related to pastors training events that were not budgeted.

Across the denomination, OIMC was one of 23 conferences that contributed to the church’s global outreach funds at the 100 percent or above level of their apportioned amount. Support of the general funds exceeded $130,000,000 for 2007, a net increase of about $4,100,000 in total dollars over the previous year, according to the last GCFA report.

Rev. Wilson reported that there were five churches that have already paid 100 percent of their 2008 apportionments. They include Seminole Hitchitee, Cane Hill, Mitchell Memorial , Cache Creek and Little Washita UMC.

The following churches have already paid 100 percent of their 2008 property insurance. Fife Memorial, Haikey Chapel , Little Cussetah, Seminole Hitchitee, Stilwell, Wewoka, Cane Hill, Choctaw Academy, Mitchell Memorial , Cache Creek and Little Washita UMC.

Southwest region churches that paid 100 percent of their 2007 apportionments include: Botone Memorial, Cache Creek, Cedar Creek, Hunting Horse, J.J. Methvin, Little Washita, Mt. Scott Comanche, Petarsy Mission, Sherwood Tsotigh, UMC of Apache and Ware’s Chapel.

The entire Southwest region did pay 100 percent of their 2007 property insurance and was the only region to do so.

Southeast region churches that paid 100 percent of 2007 apportionments include: Bethel Hill, Bobb-Myers, Boiling Springs, Bokchito, Cane Hill, Choctaw Academy, Dallas Indian, Goodland, Goodwater, Grace Chapel, Johnson Chapel, Kullichito, Kullituklo, Mitchell Memorial, Old Cedar, Pennington, Seeley Chapel, Sulphur Springs, Tohwali, William Anderson and Yasho UMC.

Central region churches that paid 100 percent include: El Reno, Mary Lee Clark, Norman First, Pawnee, Ponca Indian and Wichita.

Northeast region churches that paid 100 percent include: Arbeka, Big Cussetah, Broken Arrow, Canterbury Chapel, Choska, Christ UMC, Concharty, Davis Chapel, D.D. Etchieson, Fife Memorial, Haikey Chapel, Kaney Chapel, Lawrence Indian, Little Cussetah, Mutteloke, Nagawee, New Hope, Newtown, Pickett Chapel, Salt Creek, Springfield, Springtown, Stilwell, Sullivan Chapel and Thlopthlocco UMC.

Southeast region churches that paid 100 percent of their property insurance for 2007 include: Bethel Hill, Bobb-Myers, Boiling Springs, Bokchito, Cane Hill, Choctaw Academy, Dallas Indian, Goodland, Goodwater, Grace Chapel, Kullichito, Kullituklo, Mitchell Memorial, Old Cedar, Pennington, Seeley Chapel, Sulphur Springs, Tohwali, White Sand Valliant, William Anderson and Yasho UMC.

Central region churches that paid 100 percent of 2007 property insurance include: Angie Smith, Billy Hooton, El Reno, Mary Lee Clark, Norman First, Pawnee, Ponca Indian and Wichita.

Northeast region churches that paid 100 percent include: Arbeka, Big Cussetah, Broken Arrow, Canterbury Chapel, Christ UMC, Concharty, Davis Chapel, D.D. Etchieson, Fife Memorial, Haikey Chapel, Honey Creek,Little Cussetah, Mutteloke, Nagawee, New Hope, Newtown, Pickett Chapel, Salt Creek, Springfield, Springtown, Stilwell, Sullivan Chapel, Thlopthlocco, Tulsa Indian and Wewoka UMC.

OIMC has paid 100 percent of the general church apportionments for the past eight years. Rev. Wilson said that the conference receives well over $550,000 a year from general agencies for support of clergy salaries and pensions and property insurance.

The funds that we receive each year from these general agencies come from thousands of United Methodist churches across the country that support us through payment of their apportionments, Wilson said.

“We receive back so much more from United Methodist churches through their payment of the World Service Fund than what we pay in,” Wilson said