Vol. 4 • No. 30
November 30, 2005
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In This Issue of The Link:
Important News from the Administrative Office
--Bishops' Appeal for Hurricane Response: Help affected churches with clergy compensation and property reconstruction
--Long Term Care Insurance Enrollment Period Extended
--Opportunities for Local Churches Arising from Hurricane Katrina Disaster
--Changes to Medical Reimbursement Account Rules
Conference News
-- January Retreat Promises to be an Adventure
--St. Marys UMC Foundation, Inc. Announces Grant Recipients
Connection News
--Winterized Tents Needed in Pakistan
-- 2012 United Methodist General Conference to be in Virginia
--GCFA Resolution Notes United Methodist Generosity
--Upper Room Ministries Accepting Applications for the Academy for Spiritual Formation
--Duke Ministry Fellowships Available for Youth Workers
--Churches Evangelize through Podcasting
--Be Repairers of the Breach: Participate in a Sisterhood of Support
--Grants will Provide Training for Crime Victim Chaplains
Resources
--Advent Wreath Meditations
--Christmas with UMCOR
--TechShop Announces New Line of Products
'Shadow Voices' documentary addresses mental illness
Mark Your Calendar
--District Charge Conference Dates
--Upcoming Conference Events
IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
Long Term Care Insurance Enrollment Period Extended
The deadline for enrollment in the guaranteed acceptance for Long Term Care Insurance endorsed by the General Board of Pensions has been extended to December 16, 2005. Eligible, actively-at-work clergy and lay General Board participants age 65 or younger enrolling by this date will have guaranteed acceptance regardless of their health status. Guaranteed acceptance means you will be accepted even if you have medical conditions that would make you ineligible if you were to apply normally. Enroll online by visiting the Long-Term Care website. Clergy and lay General Board participants can access the website by logging on directly at http://gbophb.jhancock.com (username: gbophb; password: mybenefit).
Bishops' Appeal for Hurricane Response: Help affected churches with clergy compensation and property reconstruction
The Council of Bishops has established a new Bishops Appeal, Bishops' Appeal for Hurricane Response. The primary use of the appeal is to provide support in impacted annual conferences for clergy compensation, reconstruction of property, and other related needs.
This appeal is being handled outside the Advance Special channels under the authority of ¶818 of The Book of Discipline (2004). In this type of special appeal, contributions are channeled directly through the General Council on Finance and Administration. While similar to special appeals of the past, this is a new venture.
Contributors can make donations through local church offerings. When donations are received through the local church, they should be forwarded to the Conference Treasurer, PO Box 52101, Macon, GA 31208. Our Conference Treasurer's Office has set up a local GCFA number for this appeal to make it easier for churches when they send their other money to the Treasurer's Office. Please earmark your check #697 – Bishops' Appeal.
Opportunities for Local Churches arising from Hurricane Katrina Disaster
by Miriam Hagan, Director of Administrative Services
The following opportunities that will benefit local churches have come from the Katrina disaster:
--The disaster gave ministers and mission chairs the opportunity to emphasize one of the good things about our United Methodist connection – United Methodist Committee on Relief (also known as UMCOR). Local churches can be reminded that every dollar given to UMCOR goes to the project and that the administrative costs come from our gifts each spring to the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. So far this office has received over $1 million in gifts for the 2005 Hurricane disaster funds including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and for Material Resource Supplies (flood buckets). This is the largest outpouring of gifts to come through this office for a UMCOR appeal.
--Because this disaster was close to home for persons in South Georgia, Brad Brady has been busy organizing and conducting disaster relief training events this fall. This is giving our churches more opportunities to involve members in “hands on missions” projects.
--The third opportunity of the disaster is a relaxing of the rules relating to charitable donations for contributions made after Aug. 27, 2005 and through the end of the year. This may be of interest to local church ministers or finance or stewardship committees in that the relaxation of the rules about charitable contributions apply to all contributions made not just for Katrina related donations. In my mind, if your church is having a drive to finish paying for a building or has recently started a building campaign or even needs a boost in order to finish your operating budget positively this may help you.
What you need to know about how the new tax rules work: Charitable donations for individuals are part of itemized deductions and are reported on Form 1040 Schedule A Normal tax rules have a limitation on the deductibility of itemized deductions so that if a taxpayer's “adjusted gross income” for 2005 exceeds $145,950 (or $72,975 if married filing separately) then a portion of the deductions are not allowed. Another tax rule related to charitable deductions is one that limits donations to an “overall 50% ceiling for all charitable gifts”. The Katrina Relief Act included in it a provision that cash contributions paid after August 27, 2005, and through the end of the year, are not subject to the overall limitation on itemized deductions or to the 50% adjusted gross income limitations. As I mentioned earlier, the contributions can be made to any qualified charitable organization and are not limited to just those made to the Katrina disaster. This year persons, who because of their income level, are subject to these rules should be able to deduct more contributions that they would under the normal tax rules. (Now for the disclaimer, persons who have been subject to these limitations in the past will probably want to call their tax advisor for advice).
One last note: The mileage rate for individuals who drive their vehicles to volunteer for a charitable organization (and are not reimbursed) is normally 14 cents per mile. As a result of Katrina, if persons have charitable use of their vehicle in order to provide relief related to Hurricane Katrina, the mileage rate for these miles will be 34 cents a mile after Aug. 31, 2005. (For persons who went between Aug. 24 and Aug. 31st, the mileage rate is 29 cents per mile.)
Changes to Medical Reimbursement Account Rules
HealthFlex is implementing the Grace Period announced by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in May 2005 in IRS Notice 2005-42. The new rule permits participants to submit eligible health care expenses incurred through March 15, 2007, to be reimbursed from their 2006 account balance. Eligible health care expenses incurred during this Grace Period may be reimbursed from the previous program year's (the just-ended year) health care flexible spending account (Health FSA) balance, if any, or from the then current program year's balance. Prior to this rule change, only expenses that were incurred during the 365-day program year were reimbursable. Now, participants have another 75 days after the end of a program year to incur claims and ensure they use their prior year's Health FSA balance.
The Grace Period will go into effect for the program year ending December 31, 2006. You must be an active program participant with a positive Health FSA balance as of the last day of the program year in order to take advantage of the Grace Period for that program year. It is important to remember that participants can still forfeit FSA funds if they don't incur enough expenses during the program year and the Grace Period to exhaust that program year's Health FSA balance. In addition, participants must remember to submit these expenses by the last day of the run-out period, which will be April 30, 2007, for the 2006 program year.
CONFERENCE NEWS
January Retreat Promises to be an Adventure
A January Adventure in Emerging Christianity will be held at Epworth By The Sea January 19-21, 2006. The event will feature Walter Brueggemann speaking on the theme, "Practicing an Alternative in a Culture of Seduction," and Marcus Borg speaking on a parallel theme of "Being a Christian in a time of Empire: Then and Now." Candler School of Theology will confer 1 CEU credit for participation in this event. More information is available at www.januaryadventure.org or buzpic@bellsouth.net or 912-638-8945. Click here for a registration form and program information. Click here for a bulletin insert for use in your church. This event is being sponsored by a group of lay persons on St. Simsons Island.
St. Marys UMC Foundation, Inc. Announces Grant Recipients
The Board of Directors of the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. has announced it will be awarding $875,470 in grants during the Fall 2005 Grant Cycle. Grants will be distributed during the week of December 5, 2005 to various non-profit organizations. Click here to view a list of the recipients.
CONNECTION NEWS
Winterized Tents Needed in Pakistan
(Newscope) As winter begins in the northern hemisphere, those without homes due to the earthquake in Pakistan are in need of winterized tents. Church World Service says that two children have already died from tent fires. The demand for winterized tents exceeds the availability. CWS and its partners have provided tents for 15,000 people along with heaters, blankets, and sweaters. The government and various aid groups are also using at least a part of the destroyed homes in order to provide some shelter from the snow that has begun to fall. The UM Committee on Relief is sending aid through CWS and the International Blue Crescent (Pakistan Earthquake, Advance #232000).
2012 United Methodist General Conference to be in Virginia
(UMNS) The 2012 international gathering of the United Methodist General Conference will be held in Richmond, Va., the denomination's Commission on the General Conference announced Nov. 22. The gathering of 1,000 delegates from the U.S., Europe, Africa and Asia will be held at the Richmond Convention Center, April 25-May 4, 2012. In addition to delegates, about 4,000 additional persons are expected to attend and participate in the conference. The General Conference is the United Methodist Church's top legislative gathering. The conference meets every four years to consider changes to church law and to take positions on theological and social issues related to the church's work around the globe. The next conference will be April 23-May 2, 2008, in Forth Worth, Texas. More>>
GCFA Resolution Notes United Methodist Generosity
(UMNS) The generosity of United Methodists will be needed more than ever for the remainder of 2005 and throughout 2006 as the Louisiana and Mississippi Annual (regional) conferences struggle to recover from Hurricane Katrina. That fact was noted in a resolution passed by the denomination's General Council on Finance and Administration, which met Nov. 17-20 in Lake Junaluska, N.C.
The resolution requests that annual (regional) conferences increase their support for the church's global outreach to help reduce the financial shortfalls congregations along the Gulf Coast have suffered since the hurricane struck Aug. 29. More>>
Upper Room Ministries Accepting Applications for the Academy for Spiritual Formation
Since 1983 Upper Room Ministries has offered The Academy for Spiritual Formation as an in-depth experience in Christian spiritual formation for clergy and laity. This intensive two-year program brings participants together for 40 days (5 days each quarter) for worship, silence, covenant groups and faculty presentations on sixteen core courses. Applications are now being accepted for Academy #25 at Camp Sumatanga in Gallant, AL (near Birmingham). The first session is scheduled for February 7-12, 2006. Interested persons can click here for more information.
Duke Ministry Fellowships Available for Youth Workers
Duke Divinity School is now accepting applications for the 2006 Ministry Fellowships for Youth Workers scheduled for July 7-16, 2006. Now in its sixth year, the Duke Youth Academy for Christian Formation has drawn national recognition for transforming the practices of youth ministry in the church and world. Seeking to disseminate further its theological approaches and methods, the youth academy invites a small number of pastors and lay workers in youth ministry into residence with Duke Youth Academy participants and staff on the Duke University campus in Durham, North Carolina for ten days during the summer of 2006. More>>
Churches Evangelize through Podcasting
(UMC.org) United Methodist churches are using 21st century technology to fulfill Jesus' Great Commission of making disciples. Churches of all sizes are using Internet technology to reach their members as well as to evangelize new audiences. And borrowing a page from pop culture, churches are finding that one of the hottest resources available is podcasting. Podcasting allows people to listen to sermons and other material online at their convenience and to share that content with others. In common use, podcasting refers to delivering media programs over the Internet. These programs are often similar in style and content to radio and television shows and are typically provided in a digital audio and video format. More>>
Be Repairers of the Breach: Participate in a Sisterhood of Support
(GBGM) After discussion with the conference leaders in areas affected by hurricanes this year, the Women's Division knows many United Methodist Women will not be able to meet their pledge to mission or fully fund the budgets of the conferences involved. You can help sisters in those conferences meet their 2005 pledge and serve in their own areas by giving a special offering in their honor. More>>
Grants will Provide Training for Crime Victim Chaplains
(UMNS) The Crime Victims Advocacy Council has received a grant of $28,650 from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries to recruit, train and supervise crime victim chaplains. The Rev. Bruce Cook, director and chaplain of the Atlanta-based council, wants to use the grant to recruit 64 crime victim chaplains - one for each of the denomination's annual (regional) conferences in the United States. Cook is currently the only United Methodist-endorsed chaplain working with crime victims. Deadline for applying is Dec. 15. More>>
RESOURCES
Advent Wreath Meditations
(GBOD) This set of brief meditations and Scriptures may be used in lighting the candles of the Advent wreath in worship at church or home. Each meditation uses one of the 2005 lectionary readings for that day. The readings are divided into sections that may be assigned to various people participating, including children. A suggested hymn from both The United Methodist Hymnal and The Faith We Sing is provided, as an option, to conclude each meditation. Permission is granted to download, copy, adapt, edit, and reprint these meditations for home or local church worship with the inclusion of the copyright citation on each copy. Click here to view.
Christmas with UMCOR
Here are two ways UMCOR can help you with your Christmas shopping this year:
--UMCOR Christmas Wish List: Share Christmas with the world. Use this list as guide for giving this Christmas season. This list gives some of UMCOR's priority projects and examples of how your gift can help another person, family, or entire community. Click here to find out more about UMCOR's Christmas Wish List and how you can promote it in your church and community.
--UMCOR Calendar: The UMCOR 2006 Calendar, Harvest of Hope, makes an excellent Christmas gift. Make 2006 a year of hope by sharing this inspirational collection of rich images from around the world along with vignettes about UMCOR programs in each location. It comes with a CD containing a screensaver and additional resources. Order now! Supplies are limited! Call the GBGM Service Center at 1-800-305-9857 or order online at the GBGM E-Store:
http://gbgm-umc.org/e-store/detail.cfm?id=1214.
TechShop Announces New Line of Products
TechShop is proud to announce a new line of creative and flexible ministry products designed to engage your church congregation and enhance worship. Developed by Midnight Oil Productions, these graphic and video resources compliment any projection-based worship application (including PowerPoint, MediaShout, SundayPlus, and more).
Rediscover Christmas Tell the Christmas story in a powerful new way this year with Rediscover Christmas, a full-featured holiday media resource package. Each resource includes multiple versions (video, audio, print, stills, etc.) of the same visual themes for worship and promotion/ outreach. Click here to see what one pastor is doing with this resource.
TechShop Price: $59.00 Learn More
Spark Volume 1 Worship Graphics Kindle your creative worship planning with spark, a collection of still images for worship. Each volume in the series contains over 100 professional-quality graphics based on 30 metaphors and is good for worship and teaching. Matching videos also available!
TechShop Price: $32.00 Learn More
'Shadow Voices' documentary addresses mental illness
(UMNS) In many local churches, mental illness remains an unknown and unaddressed social issue. The Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder, a United Methodist pastor in San Diego, Calif., has firsthand knowledge of this problem. Diagnosed with a bipolar disorder, she is "doing very well" with medication and is coordinator of mental health ministries for the denomination's California-Pacific Annual (regional) Conference. Gregg-Schroeder is featured in "Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental Illness," which will begin airing Dec. 4 on ABC-TV affiliates. The one-hour documentary was produced by Mennonite Media and the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission, which includes United Methodist participation, for the National Council of Churches. More>>
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
District Charge Conference Dates
--Americus District Charge Conference Dates: Click here to view
--Dublin District Charge Conference Dates: Click here to view
--Macon District Charge Conference Dates: Click here to view
--Thomasville District Charge Conference Dates: Click here to view
--Savannah District Charge Conference Dates: Click here to view
--Statesboro District Charge Conference Dates: Click here to view
--Valdosta District Charge Conference Dates: Click here to view
Upcoming Conference Events
Keep up with what's going on in the South Georgia Conference!
-- Annual Georgia Day of Prayer for Moral Leadership - January 8
--LAOS (Laity Retreat) - January 20-22
--Winter Camp Meeting - February 5-8
--Confirmation Retreat - February 10-12
--Macon District Christian Enrichment School - February 11 & 12
--Conirmation Retreat - March 3-5
--Spouses Retreat - March 17-19
--UMW Spiritual Growth Retreat - March 24-26
--UMM Retreat - April 21-23