This letter was sent to Massachusetts churches and pastors, church and Association treasurers, and moderators on March 3, 2020.
To: Leaders in MA Churches, Associations, and the SNEUCC
From: David Cleaver Bartholomew, Transitional ACM for Stewardship and Financial Development
Re: Proportional Giving
Date: March 3, 2020
It has come to my attention that there is some ambiguity and/or confusion within our churches and Associations regarding where churches are to send their 2020 Proportional Giving and Association Dues amounts and how much we are asking churches to contribute. I truly regret this is the case and take full responsibility for it. This email is an attempt to resolve the ambiguity and/or clear up the confusion.
United Church Mission (UCM) Churches
I will send each of you an email indicating what portion of your UCM payment last year was retained by the Conference for Conference and National support and what amount was remitted back to your Association. We ask that you send your Association portion directly to your Association’s treasurer, but that you send your Proportional Giving contribution (the Conference and National support portion) directly to the SNEUCC office in Framingham.
All Other Massachusetts Churches
We ask that you send your Proportional Giving contribution (i.e., the combination of your Conference Dues and OCWM Basic Support) to Framingham, but that you send your Association Dues amount directly to your Association’s Treasurer.
For example, if you are in the Northeast Association, we are requesting that you send your Association portion or dues to Ms. Deb Adams, 35 Sandra Ln., Reading, MA 01867, and that you send your Proportional Giving contribution, as described above for your particular church, to our office at 1 Badger Road, Framingham, MA 01702.
Regarding the amount of your contribution, we would like you to minimally contribute the same amount as you did in 2019. However, we encourage you to increase your contribution if you are at all able to do so, as we hope that you are excited by our United Covenant, Living the Love & Justice of Jesus, and want to increase your financial support of our four essential values:
- Making disciples of Jesus
- Making God’s love and justice real
- Bringing new life as agents of change and
- Forming covenant partnerships for the common good
If you have further questions and/or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
I sincerely thank you for your past support, and as we move into the future “Together, As One," just imagine how much we can do to “live the love and justice of Jesus!"
Your brother in Christ,
Rev. Dr. David Cleaver Bartholomew
508-875-5233 x 231 cleaver-bartholomewd@sneucc.org