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.

Leadership Giving

Basic Support

Expressing deep gratitude on behalf of the Michigan Conference for the generous annual contributions made by 85 local churches 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 contributions made our shared ministry possible.

We are deeply grateful for the time, prayer, and discernment that each church brought to its decision to give, and we honor the leaders and congregations who helped carry that commitment forward. When local faith communities invest in the shared work of ministry, they help expand hope far beyond any single place, making space for new opportunities to serve, care, and witness across our great state of Michigan.

As we receive these gifts, we also renew our responsibility to steward them faithfully and with purpose. May God continue to bless the generosity of our churches, and may our partnership remain strong—so that the ministry we share continues to reach people with compassion, equip communities with resources, and move forward with courage and faith.

OCWM Basic Support Resources

For Every Local Church

OCWM Basic Support bulletin inserts and local church resources are a great way to spread the message of supporting the wider church. Below are a list of recent OCWM Bulletins:

2026 Q2 Bulletin Insert – OCWM

2026 Q1 Bulletin Insert – OCWM

2025 Q3 Bulletin Insert – OCWM

Want to edit a template for an OCWM Bulletin Insert to share with your local congregations? Access the Canva Template  here:

2026 Q2 Bulletin Insert – OCWM (Canva Template)