277. Three special Sundays, approved by General Conference, provide opportunities for annual conference offerings.
1. Christian Education Sunday--Christian Education Sunday shall be observed on a date determined by the Annual Conference. It calls the Church as the people of God to be open to growth and learning as disciples of Jesus Christ. If the annual conference so directs, an offering may be received for the work of Christian education within the annual conference. Local Church treasurers shall remit the receipts of the offering to the annual conference treasurer, and receipts will be acknowledged in accordance with the procedure of the annual conference. Local Churches shall report the amount of the offering in the manner indicated in the local church report to the annual conference.
2. Golden Cross Sunday--Golden Cross Sunday shall be observed annually on a date determined by the annual conference. If the annual conference so directs, an offering may be received for the work of health and welfare ministries in the annual conference. Local Church treasurers shall remit the receipts of the offering to the annual conference treasurer, and receipts will be acknowledged in accordance with the procedure of the annual conference. Local Churches shall report the amount of the offering in the manner indicated on the local Church report to the annual conference.
3. Rural Life Sunday--Rural Life Sunday shall be observed on a date to be determined by the annual conference. Rural Life Sunday shall call the Church to celebrate the rural heritage of The United Methodist Church and to recognize the ongoing crisis occurring in rural areas of the nation and world today. If the annual conference so directs, an offering may be received for the work of ministries in town and rural areas within the conference, such as: rural chaplaincy, ministries with African American farmers, development of cooperative parish ministries, and/or strengthening the nurture, outreach, and/or witness of congregations in town and rural areas. Local-Church treasurers shall remit the receipts of the offering to the annual conference treasurer, and receipts shall be acknowledged in accordance with the procedure of the annual conference. Local Churches shall report the amount of the offering in the manner indicated on the local Church report to the annual conference.
Annual conferences may determine other special Sundays with or without offering. Special Sundays with offering shall be approved by the annual conference upon recommendation of the annual conference council on ministries in consultation with annual conference council on finance and administration. Special Sundays without offering shall be approved by the annual conference upon recommendation of the annual conference council on ministries.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 277
1996 United Methodist General Conference