Petition Text: 22359-FA-NonDis-O

Understanding Petition Numbers

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Whereas, the Bible calls us to tithing of our resources as an expression of our love for God; and

Whereas, Wesleyan theology supports the connectional system, community giving and sharing of resources; and

Whereas, the Book of Discipline, ¶ 112.4, states: "...we recognize there are stresses that must be addressed if the connectional principle is to continue to serve us well in the future. The stresses include issues surrounding...apportionments and designated giving, episcopal leadership, and mutual accountability. It is important for connectionalism to bend, to have tolerance in a changing world, to be able to live in the new days ahead of us with freshness and new commitment"; and

Whereas, the amount of the annual apportionments is the cause of growing discomfort for many local churches, with the financial strength of the local church impacting its apportionments;

Therefore, be it resolved, that the biblical expectation of ten (10) percent of each local church's operating budget for the same year be established as the measure of its apportionment; and

Be it further resolved, that such implementation of this standard be established for the year 2001.

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Petition Text: 22359-FA-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference