West Michigan Conference  
 
Last Statement Update - Friday, May 18, 2012
Verse of the Day

MINISTRY SHARES 


Through the Ministry Shares covenant, the people of The United Methodist Church connect together to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Ministry Shares provide an opportunity to do together what no one person or congregation could do alone. It is an opportunity to multiply and share God's gifts in the world.


Track Your Church's Ministry Shares Performance

The Council on Finance and Administration is providing a tool to help members of local congregations keep track of how their church is doing in meeting its obligation to support the shared ministry of The United Methodist Church. A file showing the amount of each church’s Ministry Share and the progress each has made in paying that amount is available to all for viewing and/or download. To access that file point to this link to the Treasurers’ website.

The churches in the file are organized by district; click on your district to find your church. In addition to the progress being made this year, the percentage each church paid of their Ministry Share for two prior years are also listed. Please check on your church’s progress. If there any questions or discrepancies between the church's records and this report, contact Pros Tumonong, Conference Treasurer, treas@wmcumc.org, or Ann Buck abuck@wmcumc.org at 616-459-4503 or 1- 888-217-1905.

Links to Helpful Websites 

2012-04-24 Treasuer's Letter 
Conference Treasurer e – Newsletter Issued: 2012-04


Retiree Health Care Information Meetings
IRS Group Ruling-UMC Churches are Non-Profits
Request for Inclusion in UMC Non-Profit List
Churches Qualify For Health Care Tax Credit
Health Screening At Annual Conference

Retiree Health Care Information Meetings: Information meetings will be held to update the conference about the changes needed to maintain the health care of our clergy and conference lay employees during retirement. In the spirit of caring for those who have served the church, the Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits invites church lay leadership and clergy in Active and Retired status to attend these meetings to learn the planned changes in 2013 that will involve ways of financing the postretirement health care obligations in the long term. These changes include additional contributions by retired participants and by the local churches, as well as changes in health care coverages.
The Board is committed to maintain a health care plan for our retired clergy and conference lay employees that is sustainable in the long-term. The purpose if these meetings is to help us all together be better informed and therefore better stewards of this precious gift.


Date Day Time Church or Location

May 11 Friday 11:00AM-12:30 PM Marshall
May 12 Saturday 11:00AM-12:30 PM Paw-Paw

May 15 (new date) Tuesday 10:00AM-11:30 PM Clark Community (for residents)
May 16 Wednesday 11:00AM-12:30 PM Grand Ledge

May 19 Saturday 10:00AM-11:30 PM Traverse City, Central UMC
May 21 Monday 11:00AM-12:30 PM Cornerstone

May 24 Thursday 11:00AM-12:30 PM Reed City

IRS 1974 Group Ruling – All United Methodist Churches are Non-Profit. In 1974, the IRS issued a Group Ruling letter stating that all UMC churches and affiliated organizations are non-profit entities under section 501©(3) of the code. But when granting Foundations do a search our individual churches may not show up on the Internet. This is because the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) of the UMC is designated to maintain the list of UMC churches. Usually, the IRS Group Ruling Letter will suffice for most vendors. You can download this Group Ruling letter the Treasurers’ website www.wmc.umconline.org in the Treasurers Toolbox section.

Request for Inclusion in UMC Non-Profit List: If granting Foundation, ask for specific status of your church, the GCFA will provide the certification for your church as a non-profit organization. The request form is also downloadable as a fillable Word document from the Treasurers’ website www.wmc.umconline.org in the Treasurers Toolbox section.
Churches Qualify For Health Care Tax Credit: The credit is available again for Tax Year 2011 by filing not later than May 15, 2012. Application for extension is available for a few months.
Eligibility for the Tax Credit depends on whether:

1. The church has fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs);
2. The church pays average annual wages less than $50,000 (generally, not counting clergy wages); and
3. The church participates in the Conference health program

Simplified directions are found in the Treasurers’ website www.wmc.umconline.org in the Treasurers Toolbox section.

Get READY, for the new Walking Program: The new Walking Program under the Center for Health of the General Board of Pension is coming soon. Watch for email to all clergy in active status.

Health Screening At Annual Conference: The HPA nurses will be at Annual Conference, again. To receive the $500 rebate, participants need to complete the bio-metrics and health risk questionnaire.


Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our General Conference under way in Tampa, FL.