Tithing Task Force Report

1. Tithing Task Force Report • Presented to the Leadership Table • October 8, 2011 Tithing Task Force Report

2. Members: • Rev. Billy Craddock • Rev. Ed Fisher • Rev. Rodney Frieden • Jonathan Purvis • Manet Shuttle • Bruce Whitehead • Judi Purvis, chairperson Tithing Task Force Report

3. Format of Report: • Background • Points of Conversation • Recommendations • Appendices • Biography of Members • Resources Tithing Task Force Report

4. Conversations Pages 3 & 4 • Giving is a spiritual issue. • Paradigm shift is crucial. Christian culture should produce the question • “How do we make disciples by providing the 5 practices?” • Not – “How do we pay the electric bill?” • Having conversation around the topic of generosity should be easy. Tithing Task Force Report

5. Conversations, continued Pages 3 & 4 • Can an aging membership create opportunities? • How can a large lay-membership conference make a difference in the area of generosity? Tithing Task Force Report

6. Recommendations fell into three categories: • Education • Communication • Accountibility/Responsibility Tithing Task Force Report

7. Some of the following recommendations are already in place in one form or another. The attempt of the TTF in being perhaps redundant is to encourage the work already being done in the area of promoting Extravagant Generosity and to encourage more work to be done. Tithing Task Force Report

8. Education Tithing Task Force Report

9. Recommendation #1 Page 5 It is recommended that education and inspirational opportunities about the spiritual nature of money need to be provided with intentionality, accessibility and frequency to clergy and laity. • Appendix Page 10 Tithing Task Force Report

10. Recommendation #2 Page 5 It is recommended that educational opportunities regarding methodology and means for increasing tithing be provided with intentionality, accessibility, and frequency to clergy and laity. • Appendix Page 16 Tithing Task Force Report

11. Appendix for Recommendation #2 • Best Practices • Rejuvenate • Speaker’s Bureau • Seminary courses (Wesleyan Connexion) Tithing Task Force Report

12. Recommendation #3 Page 5 It is recommended that the variety of opportunities that clergy and laity have to give generously to the church be promoted with intentionality. • Appendix Page 18 Tithing Task Force Report

13. Although education and focus need to be given to all six areas, the TTF believes that special emphasis needs to be given to Annual giving, Major Project giving, and Enduring giving. The following two recommendations reflect that thinking. Tithing Task Force Report

14. Recommendation #4 Page 6 It is recommended that clergy and laity be given information and the tools for providing a narrative budget which allocates income and expenses by the five practices. Additionally, providing specific benchmarks for analyzing church budgets would be beneficial to clergy and laity alike. • Appendix Page 19 Tithing Task Force Report

15. Appendix for Recommendation #4 Contains examples of how to develop a Narrative Budget - from beginning to end Narrative Budget Line item budget Line item to Five Practices Endnotes for resources and references Tithing Task Force Report

16. Recommendation #5 Page 6 It is recommended that clergy and laity be given information and the tools for providing church members and friends the opportunities to give gifts for major projects and/or gifts in perpetuity. • Appendix Page 30 Tithing Task Force Report

17. Communication Tithing Task Force Report

18. Recommendation #6 • Page 7 It is recommended that a Financial Sustainability Advisory Council be created at the conference level and chaired by the Bishop comprised of the 50 financially wealthiest United Methodist in Indiana with a vision and commitment to make disciples for Christ and charged with advising the Bishop and the conference on matters related to maximizing financial resources for the conference and its local churches. • Appendix Page 30 Tithing Task Force Report

19. Recommendation #7 Page 7 It is recommended that a variety of ways by which to actually make contributions be provided to givers. • Appendix Page 31 Tithing Task Force Report

20. Recommendation # 8 Page 7 It is recommended that additional means for collecting and reporting “good news” stories and successful outcomes need to be established. • Appendix Page 32 Tithing Task Force Report

21. Recommendation #9 Page 7 It is recommended that research be gathered which will lead to a language that will clearly communicate the complexities of good stewardship. Tithing Task Force Report

22. Accountabilities Responsibilities Tithing Task Force Report

23. Recommendation #10 Page 8 It is recommended that clergy and laity be encouraged to be leaders in the area of stewardship and produce improved financial outcomes and be held accountable for the outcomes derived under their leadership. • Appendix Page 33 Tithing Task Force

24. Recommendation #11 • Page 8 It is recommended that one person or group be named to oversee the implementation, coordination and follow through of all approved recommendations. That person or group should report to the Bishop or his designee and not already be buried in other responsibilities. Tithing Task Force Report

25. Resources Tithing Task Force Report