United Methodist Credit Union offers churches ways to save
The United Methodist Credit Union is pleased to be a financial resource for the church members and churches of the Western North Carolina Conference. Here are just a couple of ways we can help churches grow their savings or cut loan expenses.
- First, if a church has significant cash balances (earning nearly nothing), we can help them with something we’ve created just for United Methodist churches in the conferences we serve. We call it the Church Reserve Account, and it gives a church the ability to keep money in a flexible savings account yielding a full 1.00% APY – far above what banks are paying. The account is federally-insured, can have a balance of up to $250,000, and allows for one withdrawal per quarter. More information can be found at www.tumcu.org\churchreserve or by calling us at (866) 657-0004. The Church Reserve Account could add as much as an extra $2,500 to a church’s resources each and every year.
- Second, if any church is looking to cut loan expenses – The United Methodist Credit Union stands ready to refinance a church’s existing unsecured loan (up to $50,000), at a rate 2% less than their current rate (down to our minimum of 4.25% APR ), and we can do so with very little paperwork and very little time. Also, keep in mind, that we finance larger church loans on a limited basis and may be able to help churches with these types of loans as well. Either way, we just want to help churches, and we’re proud to do so. Contact Mike Haydon at (866) 657-0004 with any questions or details on how to apply.
Resources for Vital Congregations
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Books
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Serve Your Neighbor
GBHEM Leadership Resources
Living Faithfully: Human Sexuality and the United Methodist Church
Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations
Ted Talks: The Power of Vulnerability
Ted Talks: The Price of Invulnerability
Meditations on the Ministry of All Christians
DISCIPLE FORMATION:
A Disciple’s Path; A Guide for United Methodist
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Adult Christian Studies from the Wesley Ministry Network
Traveling Together: A Guide for Disciple Forming Congregations
WESLEYAN STUDIES:
Living As United Methodist Christians
Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials
Reclaiming our Wesleyan Tradition: John Wesley’s Sermons for Today
John Wesley Sermons: Anthology
REACHING PEOPLE:
Evangelism & Theology in the Wesleyan Spirit
Fresh Expressions: Dinner Church
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Reach New Disciples
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: 50 Ways to Reach People
Community: The Structure of Belonging
RESOURCES TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY:
GRANTS:
The Royce and Jane Reynolds Ministry Fund Grants
OTHER:
The Appalachian District Church Vitality Team has been prayerfully seeking ways to help support you and the ministries of your local congregation during this COVID-19 pandemic. Together they have diligently researched and connected with others throughout the conference and our denomination to identify resources and offer them to you. We hope they will be helpful to you and bless you greatly in leading your churches and communities through this unprecedented time. We are very grateful to the District Vitality Team and other contributors for their great work on this resource.
This faithful team has created three documents, two of which you are receiving today. They include:
- Family Home Worship – designed to help families establish a regular worship space within their homes as well as a time where they can worship together.
- Tech Strategies – to help guide you in selecting effective tools and resources within your budget to best communicate in the digital world.
We believe these resources will be of great benefit to you. Also know that the District Vitality Team is available to answer any questions you might have in regards to the documents attached. If you have questions, you may email Rev. Howard Fleming at hfleming@wnccumc.net.
- Resources