| 2003 giving shows strength By Erik AlsgaardUMCONNECTION STAFF Giving in the Baltimore-Washington Conference showed some signs of strength last year, as the stock market and other economic indicators also moved upwards. For 2003, the total amount paid in apportionments was 90.7 percent, compared to 90.49 percent for 2002, according to Pier McPayten, treasurer for the conference. This increase in giving meant that more than $700,000 additional dollars were received for mission and ministry around the conference and around the world. Thanks be to God for the blessings God gives us, said Bishop Felton Edwin May. I want to thank all of our congregations for their generous support. Bishop May noted that 558 congregations paid 100 percent or more of their apportionments in 2003, and that the Baltimore-Washington Conference once again has paid 100 percent of its World Service apportionment to the general church. Early indications for 2004 seem good, too, said McPayten. She said that the conference received 2.56 percent of 2004 apportionments in January, compared to .82 percent last year, when there were problems with sending statements to local churches. The official conference apportioned budget for this year is $16,264,757, and may be found on pages 555-556 of the 2003 Official Journal. | 
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