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BY SHAUN LANE AND MELISSA LAUBER
UNCONNECTION STAFF

Following a session of holy conferencing that included discussions of campus ministries, staff cuts, and the hard fiscal realities facing the church, BWC members adopted a 2013 budget with a benevolence factor of 17.75 percent. This budget represents a decrease of $1.4 million and includes reductions of $420,000 in staffing; $133,000 in facilities and information technology; and $547,000 in other administrative and ministry costs.

The budget will allow the conference to continue to move toward its goal of decreasing the benevolence factor to 16 percent by 2017. The benevolence factor has shifted from 16 percent in 1990 to 23.2 percent in 2000 to 24.8 percent in 2005 to 17.75 percent in 2013.

The benevolence factor for the adopted budget represents about 11.5 percent of all local church spending. Reducing the benevolence factor to 16 percent would be the equivalent of a tithe, or 10 percent of the average church’s budget, which could be used for connectional ministry beyond the local church.

By reducing the amount local churches pay in apportionments, the conference recognizes that some of the most vital mission and ministry happen at the local church level, said Bishop John Schol. “We are committed to equipping local churches so that they have more resources to faithfully and effectively make disciples for the transformation of the world. In addition, we know that many of our congregations are experiencing financial challenges. With this budget we continue to stand in solidarity with our congregations.”

However, during the plenary session, some members expressed concern that the budget cuts went too deep, especially in the area of campus ministries.

The Rev. Mary Kay Totty of Dumbarton UMC in Georgetown proposed an amendment that would raise the benevolence factor to 18 percent, and allow the $200,000 in expected saving to be spent on campus ministries.

The amendment did not pass. However, conference leaders responded to concerns expressed by many about cuts in campus ministry, especially at the University of Maryland at College Park.

The Rev. David Cooney announced that over the coming year a study will be conducted that looks at campus ministries in a comprehensive and holistic manner to determine the best ways to minister to young adults on the many colleges and universities in the BWC area.

In addition, Bishop Schol announced, that in the coming year, conference and local church leaders will be studying this goal of a 16 percent benevolence factor to more clearly identify the budgetary impact and the potential impact it might have on local church spending, the conference’s longstanding commitment to grow congregations, pay 100 percent of apportionments, meet retiree health care expenses and maintain mission commitments.

The creation of the budget was a “long and winding road” that began nine months ago, said CFA chair Charlie Moore.

Initial assumptions in the planning process were overturned, when CFA learned that local church expenses, which make up the apportionment base, were 5 percent, or $1.1 million lower than originally assumed.

Additionally, because of its faithful mission and ministry, the Baltimore-Washington Conference was one of three conferences in the United States that experienced an increase this year in the amount of apportionments it pays to the denomination.

For the past 15 years, the BWC has been one of the few annual conferences that paid 100 percent of its General Church apportionments. These apportionments, in 2012, represent 25.8 percent of the conference’s budget.

Other significant line items include retiree health benefits, which are 10.6 percent of the annual budget, and staff salary and benefits, which are 33 percent of the 2012 budget.

In addition to making cuts in administrative and program expenses, reducing staff was also determined to be an essential part of making up the $1 million budget gap.

“Challenging times require radical leadership,” Moore said. With the passage of the 2013 budget, conference members stepped up to provide just that.