The 1992 General Conference approved Calendar Item 966 as a consent agenda item of business. The calendar item dealt with a petition from the General Council on Ministries recommending the continuance of the World Service Special Gifts Program for the 1993-96 quadrennium.
The World Service Special Gifts Fund as it is presently constituted in ¶¶ 913 and 1007.6 in The Book of Discipline, 1992 was approved during the 1984 General Conference as a test program under the administration of the General Council on Ministries. It was determined at that time that there was a need for expanding designated giving channels to general agencies so they could make direct appeals to constituencies for specific project funding. It was agreed that the General Advance program has been successful in supporting mission work and should not be expanded to include other kinds of general church programming. Therefore, the General Council on Ministries and the General Council on Finance and Administration presented legislation to the 1984 General Conference whereby gifts designated by the donor for specific projects of general agencies, other than those which may receive General Advance Specials, when approved by the General Council on Ministries, are classified as World Service Special Gifts.
Twelve projects were approved during the 1985-88 quadrennium and five were approved during the 1989-92 quadrennium.
Process and Implementation
During the 1993-96 quadrennium two projects were approved: Leonard Perryman Ethnic Minority Scholarship in Communication--United Methodist Communications (UMCom) and Africa University--General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. The Leonard Perryman Ethnic Minority Scholarship in Communication received $1,827 and Africa University program received $2,278,779 in World Service Special Gifts through October 31, 1995.
The administration of the World Service Special Gifts Program was accomplished in harmony with the criteria and process as stated in the General Council on Ministries 1993-96 Model for World Service Special Gifts. The General Council on Ministries and the General Council on Finance and Administration consulted and worked cooperatively in the administration and evaluation of this funding channel. The procedures and guidelines for both councils in the administration of World Service Special Gifts programs and funds are printed on page H-1-26 in the 1988 Daily Christian Advocate Advance Edition as approved by the 1988 General Conference.
Recommendation
The General Council on Ministries and General Council on Finance and Administration recommends the continuation of the World Service Special Gifts Program for the 1993-96 quadrennium.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 21685-GJ-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference