The Conference Connectional Table (CCT) met January 27th by Zoom to ready the 2024 budget proposal for presentation to the Council on Finance and Administration (CFA).
After discussion, the total budget submitted for vote totaled $15,734,449, reflecting a $339,905 (2.21%) increase from the budget approved for 2023. Approved unanimously, the 2024 budget was moved to CFA’s budget committee for consideration.
Each of CCT’s five ministry teams – Christian Formation, Leadership Development, Outreach Ministry, Race Equity & Justice Ministries, and Operations & Administrative Resources – presented requests to the CCT that were prepared by their committee chairs and approved by the ministry team. While trying to decrease where possible, the CCT reviewed each request to ensure the ministry was aligned with the vision of the Annual Conference. After approval by the CCT and if approved by CFA, the budget will be presented to the Annual Conference in June for final approval. Because the budget of the NC Conference operates on a four-year cycle, the budget being considered was for 2024.
The role of the Connectional Table is to be the steward of the vision of the Annual Conference. In evaluating budgets, the CCT ensures that requested funding supports the priorities of the Annual Conference: Effective Leadership, Healthy Congregations, Unity, Anti-Racism, Congregations for Children. Evaluation of existing programming is ongoing to ensure that stated conference priorities link to accomplishments and that programming is fulfilling its stated purpose with effective results.
Derek Leek, director of communications, presented the #BeUMC campaign recently launched by United Methodist Communications that honors the core values that connect the people of The United Methodist Church. Partnering with the work that UM Communications is doing around #BeUMC, the NC Conference is serving as a pilot conference to develop strategies and resources to use in collaboration with the groundwork of UM Communications. Our conference #BeUMC webpage offers a monthly theme guide developed specifically for our conference that includes theme resources, advance special giving, and notable dates, along with video testimonies and links to toolkit resources offered by UM Communications.
The next CCT meeting is scheduled for March 29th.
Under the structure of the North Carolina Conference, the Connectional Table provides a forum for the understanding, casting forth, and implementation for the vision of the conference. It is the place where ministry and money come to the same table to coordinate the mission, ministries, and resources of the conference.