Apportionment payments:
Maryville & Knoxville jump 7 percent
By Annette Bender
There’s good news, bad news, and good news. The good news is that November receipts of Fair Share apportionments were up 7.5 percent compared to last year.
The bad news is, eight districts are behind what they gave this time last year – “several very far behind,” according to Holston Treasurer Clyde McDonald. And it will take a large giving increase in December to reach a year-end percentage to match last year’s 88.5 percent of apportionments paid, conferencewide.
The necessary increase in December 2003 giving over December 2002 giving (9.9 percent) is “not impossible,” says McDonald. In fact, Bishop Ray Chamberlain in his most recent column encourages local churches to participate in an “all-out effort” to exceed last year. (See page 2).
Through Nov. 30, Holston churches collectively gave 75.1 percent of apportionments for a total of $11.75 million, according to McDonald. That¡òs .7 percent below the amount paid through November 2002.
The other good news is that apportionment giving from the Knoxville District and Maryville District each are up 7 percent in 2003 compared with 2002.
Maryville District currently leads the conference in giving with 87 percent of apportionments paid through November, compared with 80 percent through November 2002. Following Maryville are the Morristown, Oak Ridge and Kingsport Districts, each with more than 80 percent paid through November.
Knoxville District, which finished last of all 12 districts in 2002, is currently ninth with 70 percent paid. This time last year, Knoxville churches had paid 63 percent of their annual apportionments.
So far, all districts except Maryville, Knoxville, Cleveland, and Kingsport have experienced declines in 2003 giving compared to 2002 giving. Abingdon, Big Stone Gap, and Chattanooga Districts are currently 6 to 8 percent below last year¡òs giving.
Churches are reminded that the deadline for closing the 2003 conference books is Friday, Jan. 9, at 5 p.m.
“Remittances must be in the office, not postmarked,” McDonald says. “To make it easier for churches, we will accept walk-in payments at either the Knoxville or Johnson City offices.”
For more information, call the finance office at (865) 690-4080.
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