2016 Wesleyan Discipline:General Church Financial Plan: Special offerings

2050. Special offerings, in addition to the United Stewardship Fund for the support of General Church ministries and world outreach of The Wesleyan Church, shall include the following offerings and other such offerings as shall be authorized by the General Board. No agency, division, institution, organization or similar body of The Wesleyan Church may solicit offerings or present financial appeals without the approval of the General Board.

(1) Global Partners Support. The Global Partners Division shall be supported by various approved offerings of the General Church, funds raised through missionary home ministries work, other solicitations, and money raised by auxiliary organizations.

(2) Thanksgiving and Easter Offerings. Two special offerings, apart from and in addition to the United Stewardship Fund, shall be received annually throughout the Church: a November self-denial offering for the Global Partners Division and an Easter offering for the church multiplication movement.

(3) Solicited Offerings. The Global Partners Division, the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division, and the general educational institutions shall raise financial support for the work under their care by sending representatives to visit the districts, local churches, members, and constituency of the Church. District and local officials shall receive them and cooperate in their work. Offerings received shall be used as designated and shall be in addition to and apart from United Stewardship Fund, and shall be remitted promptly through the regular channels. The Global Partners Division shall not engage in home ministries work within the week prior to Easter, and the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division shall not do fund-raising work within the week prior to Thanksgiving or on the Sunday following Thanksgiving. Exception to the above may be made with the approval of the Executive Directors of Church Multiplication and Discipleship and Global Partners. An educational institution shall do its school representation work in the manner decided upon in the plans for such institutions approved by the General Board.

(4) Auxiliary Organizations. Any auxiliary shall raise financial support for approved projects in accord with their respective constitutions and subject to the general oversight of the General Board.

(5) Other Contributions. Other offerings, contributions, bequests, and donations shall be used as specified by the donor and may be forwarded through the regular channels to the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer. Those individuals who prefer to contact the General Superintendent’s office or a division or institution concerning annuities, bequests, and other special contributions may do so.