financial services

The cost of being a denomination and of coordinating, organizing, and motivating the effort of local churches in national outreach is funded through this giving.

In addition to administrative concerns of the Fort Wayne, Indiana, office, funds in this account impact church planting, ethnic ministries, men’s and women’s programs, compassion and benevolent ministries, Bethel University, insurance, and many other areas. Local church support materials, Growing a Healthy Church workshops, and publications like Today’s Latest and Priority all depend on the Investment in Shared Ministries fund. In fact, excluding world missions, this account supports every aspect of denominational ministry and administration!

When the Missionary Church, Inc. was formed in 1969, it had a unified budget that cared for the total denominational administrative and overseas costs. But when the missionary share support system was developed, funds generated through shares were designated only for overseas ministry. The budget was no longer unified. As more and more money was committed to “shares,” the Investment in Shared Ministries area of the budget received less and less.

In 1987, churches were encouraged to set aside 2% of their income to what had always been part of the unified budget. By 1991, only 13% of denominational churches were supporting the fund at this level, and over 50% were not supporting it at all. To ensure funding, it was necessary to adopt the 2% investment, and participation has increased dramatically.

The 2% is calculated on total donor income (general, building, missions, bequests, etc.) received each month. The 2% is to be sent each month.

Income from subsidies and non-donor income such as day care centers, counseling centers, etc. is not to be included in the calculation.

Not only is the 2% giving an investment, it’s also a realistic goal for which churches should strive. Some give 2% while others are able to give as much as 10%. In isolated situations, a church may find it is impossible to invest the full 2%. If your church finds itself in this dilemma, please contact the denominational office to negotiate a lesser assessment goal.

In the early 1990s at a General Conference of the Missionary Church, Inc., the delegates representing all Missionary Churches made a decision to create a financial ministry commitment and responsibility as churches for the support of the national office. Thus the Investment in Shared Ministries (2%) program was instituted.

While this does not cover the total cost of national ministry, it covers about 74% of the US operation and ministry. Additional funds are raised to cover the remainder of the budget.

Obviously, such a large portion of total ministry support is key to the stability and effectiveness of the Missionary Church ministry effort; thus, the General Conference and General Oversight Council set guidelines for the Investment in Shared Ministry program.

None of the Investment in Shared Ministries fund supports World Partners, which raises its funding through missionary shares and other fundraising efforts.

As a part of the Missionary Church, each church contributes 2% of its income (“Investment in Shared Ministry”) for the national office operation and ministry. This is calculated on total donor income (general, building, missions, bequests, etc.). Income from subsidies and non-donor income such as day care centers, counseling centers, etc. is not to be included in the 2% calculation.

Churches are to send 2% of their total income on a monthly basis based on the total donor income from the previous month.

To reduce the external risk to the total budget of MCI, no single church’s giving will be budgeted for operations at a level higher than 2.5% of the MCI budget. When a church’s 2% contribution exceeds the 2.5% cap, MCI and the local church will partner in how to invest that surplus portion in ministry opportunities.