Congregations respond to Year of Jubilee
Filed Under: Christian Giving, donation, Finance, gift, jubilee, Year of Jubilee
Congregations from across the synod have begun submitting Year of Jubilee offerings now that the dates targeted for the main celebration have passed. The Ministry of Christian Giving is marking the first million dollar milestone. To date, congregations and individuals have offered $1.13 million.
The Ministry of Christian Giving scheduled the main thrust of Year of Jubilee to culminate Dec. 14, and offerings are coming in on a daily basis. Some congregations have chosen to wait to observe the celebration until after the new year begins.
The Year of Jubilee offering was authorized by the 2007 synod convention to reduce or eliminate the synod's $22.4 million dollar debt and free up as much as $2.7 million a year in debt payments for other ministry.
For congregations that have not yet participated, information and resources are available online. Individuals can also make gifts online. Gifts will be collected through July and then presented to the 2009 synod convention in Saginaw, Mich.
