Churches rally to pay 2003 apportionments
'Magnificent,' says Bishop
by Annette Bender
The numbers crept higher and higher in the final days before the financial deadline. Finally, at 5 p.m. on Jan. 9, Treasurer Clyde McDonald relayed the good news to Bishop Ray Chamberlain: Holston churches collectively paid 90.2 percent of their 2003 apportionments.
The news is good because in 2002, Holston dropped to paying 88.5 percent of Fair Share apportionments. According to McDonald, almost $2.4 million was received in December 2003 $461,968 more than in December 2002. The 1.7 percent increase over last year's numbers represents $787,706 more dollars for ministry, McDonald said.
Chamberlain said he was "thrilled to learn that Holston people came through sacrificially and magnificently" on Fair Share payments.
"The trend in most conferences was decline in the percentage given to the Fair Share over a year ago," Chamberlain said. "We not only fought that tide, we made excellent progress."
Morristown District led Holston in paying 98.6 percent. Besides Morristown District, apportionment percentages received by Maryville (96.1 percent), Wytheville (94.3 percent), Oak Ridge (93.8 percent), Kingsport (92.7 percent), and Abingdon (90.4 percent) were above the conference average, McDonald said. Eight districts increased in percentages paid, including the Knoxville District which had an 11.7 percent increase over 2002.
Statistics show that 72 percent of Holston's 925 churches paid 100 percent of 2003 apportionments. Of 183 churches paying less than 60 percent, 35 paid 0 percent toward their Fair Share apportionments.
Conference leaders commended several churches for paying 100 percent of apportionments for the first time in recent years, including Elizabeth Chapel and Jearoldstown in Johnson City District; Cokesbury and Ebenezer in Knoxville District. Three churches in Maryville District paid more than 100 percent: Wears Valley (101 percent), Seymour (105 percent), and First Sweetwater (108 percent).
The conference-wide goal for 2004 is 100 percent of apportionments paid, Chamberlain said.
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