Whereas, Appalachia Service Project, Inc. through its ministry of home repair and home building is a vital mission outreach of the Church in Central Appalachia;
Whereas, Appalachia Service Project, Inc. has operated out of fifteen centers in the summer of 1995, enabling some 7,000 volunteers to work on 260 to 300 homes;
Whereas, additional funding would allow Appalachia Service Project, Inc. to expand its ministry of home repair and building;
Whereas, the present route for churches to give to Appalachia Service Project, Inc. and receive mission credit goes through conference treasurers and the General Board of Discipleship and proves circuitous and time- consuming;
Whereas, local churches seeking to give to Appalachia Service Project, Inc. are sometimes discouraged by its lack of Advance Special status;
Whereas, Advance Special status would bring increased recognition and promote giving to Appalachia Service Project, Inc.; and
Whereas, two Annual Conferences have already granted Advance Special status within their own conferences for Appalachia Service Project, Inc.;
Therefore, the General Conference recommends to the Advance Committee of the General Council on Ministries that Appalachia Service Project, Inc. be granted General Advance Special status and that any denominational processes and structural changes which may be necessary to enable Advance Special status for Appalachia Service Project, Inc. be enacted.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 20955-GJ-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference