Why Give to Disciples Mission Fund?
Disciples Mission Fund is the common fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Disciples Mission Fund supports 72 ministries of wholeness as close as your local congregation and reaching around the globe. As a Global Mission church, we understand that equipping congregations for mission includes learning from, learning with and offer support our partners beyond the borders of the United States and Canada.
Why a Common Funding System?
As a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world, we use a common funding system to all congregations to share resources with one part of the churches ministry that are then shared across the life of the church.
The mission funding system, as overseen by the General Board, is a pre-allocated means of offering gifts in support of region ministries, general ministries, and institutions of higher education. The mission funding system allows the church to partner together for promotion and interpretation and the receipting and distributing of gifts.
Where the gifts come from:
81.2% - Congregations
8.85% - Disciples Women/CWF
6.70% - Christian Church Foundation
1.59% - Blessing Boxes
1.58% - Individuals
.045% - Church Schools
.020% - Youth
In our history section you will learn that in 1941 the International Convention of the Christian Church voted to share in a common funding system. Each congregation agree to give ten (10%) percent of their local operating receipts to the church and each General Ministry agreed to not raise funds directly from the congregations.
How the Gifts are Distributed:
45.5% - Regional Ministries
35.8% - General Ministries
9.1% - Higher Education Institutions
6.1% - Office of General Minister and President
1.8% - Other Ministries
In addition to Disciples Mission Fund general contributions, Disciples have given generously through Special Day Offerings.
Disciples Mission Fund Special Day Offerings
Disciples Mission Fund Special Day Offerings allow Disciples to give with specific intention 6 times during the year. Congregations or individuals provide these over-and-above gifts in support of designated ministries.
Easter
Easter provides support for the General Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ.) These ministries operate across the U.S. and Canada as well as around the world.
Through care, service and advocacy for others; sharing resources, stories and worship, general ministries partner with region to strengthen congregations for the mission of the church.
Pentecost
Pentecost gifts support the development and growth of new churches. Fifty percent of the offering is available for new church ministries in the regions it was given and the remainder supports the General Assembly’s New Church Priority that is housed in Church Extension.
All gifts to the Pentecost Offering directly support the operating expenses of new congregations and the training of new church pastors, mentors and coaches.
Thanksgiving
14 Colleges and Universities; and 7 Theological Institutions receive direct support through this offering, further nurturing the relationship between the church and educational institutions.
Your support of the Thanksgiving Offering provides scholarships and pastoral care to Disciples students at Disciples Schools. Your gifts are directly impacting the lives of leaders who will serve the church for years to come.
Christmas
The Christmas Offering directly supports regions in their mission to extend the ministry of Christ in mission, teaching, witness, and service among the people and social structures of the region.
Regions also establish, receive, and nurture congregations, providing help, counsel, and pastoral care to members, ministers, and congregations in their mutual relationships, and relating them to the worldwide mission and witness of the whole church.
Regional Ministries provide pastoral care and enrichment programs in 33 areas of the U.S. and Canada. Regions are often known for their outstanding camp and conference programs as well as the development and ordination of ministry candidates. All funds raised through the Christmas Special Day Offering remain in the region given.
Special Mission Funds
Week of Compassion
Week of Compassion is the Disciples witness in the face of natural or man-made disasters. Floods, hurricanes, fire, civil wars, poverty, disease are only a few of the challenges Week of Compassion responds to on behalf of Disciples. The Special Day offering is the only church-wide effort to provide general funding for the ministry.
Reconciliation Minsitry
For more than 40 years Disciples have had a visible ministry to address the racism in society. Gifts support programs and initiatives aimed at dismantling racism. Learn more about the Reconciliation Ministry.
Giving to Special Day and Special Mission Offerings
Week of Compassion: $3,120,192
All funds support Week of Compassion
Easter: $965,835
Funds distributed to 13 Ministries
Pentecost: $592,177
50% of funds remain in the region they were given, 50% support general New Church operations
Reconciliation: $516,765
All fund support Reconciliation Ministries
Thanksgiving: $556,348
Distributed directly to Universities and Theological Institutions
Christmas: $1,101,673
All funds remain in the region they were given
Learn more about Special Offerings