Giving and Generosity - Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ

Where Does the Money Go?

by Lillian Daniel Conference Minister

When it comes to church giving, I love financial transparency and I assume you do too. If you don’t, feel free to skip this, but not before reading the next sentence – If I haven’t said it to you in person at your church yet, let me say it here in writing:

Thank you for your church’s financial support of “Our Church’s Wider Mission,” and in particular, for what we call your “Basic Support,” which funds our work in the Michigan Conference, as well as the National Setting.

Those Basic Support OCWM dollars function for us in the same way that pledges do in a congregation or any other organization. They fund our ministry to recruit the best pastors (in the midst of a historic clergy shortage), to nurture people with a call to ministry (through scholarships and vocational encouragement amidst the hardest religious landscape I can remember), to care for the pastors we already have (many of whom are preaching at more than one church, or working other demanding jobs), and to support our amazing volunteer lay leaders with practical programs that address the specific questions I hear you asking when I visit your churches.

It is your Basic Support that allows our staff to do all they do; whether it is a scheduled Sunday visit from me as your Conference Minister, or a late night call to an Associate Conference Minister who jumps in her car to provide care and a last minute sermon to a church whose pastor has passed away. This past year, I was honored to revive the Michigan Conference practice of making clergy Emergency Assistance grants for medical expenses and other crises, and also to tend to the creative spirits of our pastors with a three-day Preaching Retreat this past May. READ MORE

Leadership Giving

2023 Basic Support

Expressing deep gratitude on behalf of the Michigan Conference for the generous annual contributions made by 85 local churches in 2023 totaling just over $333,000. We do not take it lightly that churches are willing to trust in the abundance, possibility and capacity of our collective generosity. These 2023 contributions made our shared ministry possible.

At the Annual Meeting, 19 Leadership Givers were recognized. These churches either gave an amount equivalent to more than %5 (^) of their reported operating expenses or contributed more than $5,000.00 (*) to Basic Support.

2023 Basic Support Leadership Givers

^Chinese Community UCC, Southfield
*Church of the Good Shepherd UCC, Ann Arbor
*Edgewood United Church, UCC, East Lansing
*First Congregational Church, Kalamazoo
*First Congregational Church of Rockford, UCC
*^First Congregational UCC, Saint Clair
*^First Congregational UCC, Saint Joseph
*First Congregational UCC, Alpena
*First Congregational UCC, Charlevoix
*First Congregational UCC, Rochester
*Haslett Community Church, UCC
*Park Church Congregational, UCC, Grand Rapids
*^Pilgrim Congregational UCC, Lansing
*^Plymouth UCC, Grand Rapids
*^Portage United Church of Christ
*Saint Paul UCC, Chelsea
*Trinity UCC, Northport
*^United Church of Christ, Midland
*^Zion United Church of Christ, Baroda

Friends of the Conference for Individual Donors

by Lillian Daniel Conference Minister

As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of church life we face many tremendous changes in our congregations. While at times unnerving, this moment calls us to listen for God. What new opportunities does God call us to? What new gifts will God provide? Who will answer the call to leadership in new ways? I believe our churches are beacons of light and hope when we gather to worship something other than ourselves while serving our neighbors in need.

Because of generous churches and generous individual donors like you, the Michigan Conference stands at the forefront of our changing society by helping leaders discern new possibilities in the rapidly changing realities of the church. You may have benefited from our support, whether personal prayers, practical support, or a preaching visit from our outward-focused staff where we come to you.

These strides forward are only possible with your covenant and generous donations to the Michigan Conference UCC. A gift of $100 would make a real difference. Your support in any amount would enable us to continue to uphold the quality of leadership in our congregations as we listen for God in this moment of change.

Will you join hands with generous people across the Mitten State as a donor and Friend of the Michigan Conference? 100% of your gift will stay in Michigan to support churches and leaders near you, as together we welcome the world into the loving vision of the United Church of Christ.