The Michigan Conference shares a midyear update on giving to Ministry Shares and on how connectional giving is going so far across The United Methodist Church.
JAMES DEATON
Content Editor
As we move past midyear and into fall, encouraging financial signs are emerging both here in the Michigan Conference and across the denomination as a whole.
The number of local churches in Michigan that have given at least 50% of their Ministry Shares is up, as is the number that have given 100%. As of July 31, 310 churches have given more than half of their Ministry Shares, compared with 288 in 2025. And 29 churches have already reached 100%, up from 24 churches this time last year.
As of the end of July, 44.5% of the apportioned Ministry Shares have been collected. That percentage is unchanged from the same date in 2025. However, the conference is $113,343 behind 2025 in cash flow. Part of that is due to the lower budget and therefore less apportioned, and part is due to closed churches.
Turning to global giving, reports from the General Council on Finance and Administration, the United Methodist Church’s finance agency, show more good news: giving has increased slightly. As of July 31, the denomination had collected about $31.3 million in total apportionments, up from $31.1 million at the same time last year. That total includes nearly $136,000 more in apportionment giving from the four United Methodist regional conferences in Africa.
Learn about connectionalism and how Ministry Shares are used worldwide in the newly revised “Handbook of The United Methodist Church,” available in five languages. Download now.
Approximately 70% of Ministry Shares given by faithful United Methodist churches in Michigan remain within the annual conference to fund a variety of services and clergy support that benefit local church ministries. Curious where this money goes? The 2026 Annual Report highlights stories of the impact of giving.
Download the video and print versions of the 2026 Annual Report.
The remaining Ministry Shares support the general ministries funded by the General Conference-approved denominational budget, such as Discipleship Ministries, which provides resources for evangelism and Christian education, and Global Ministries, which trains and commissions United Methodist missionaries worldwide. See the impact of where these dollars go in a new resource from United Methodist Communications.
Read stories from across the worldwide church that illustrate the impact of our giving.
Michigan Conference leadership expresses appreciation for the ongoing financial support local churches have provided this year, building on last year’s momentum. In 2025, overall financial giving through Ministry Shares increased by 2.4%, raising the total collection rate to 80.8%, up from 78.4% in 2024.
“As always, we are extremely grateful for the giving we’ve received so far this year,” said Angie Anger, Chief Financial Officer. Some churches wait until the final quarter to submit their Ministry Shares, so Anger hopes for a strong year-end push as we head into fall. “Every dollar goes toward our shared ministry, so even if a local church cannot give 100%, paying a percentage will definitely help us avoid using reserve funds to cover the conference budget.”
Rev. Marsha Woolley, the new President of the Michigan Conference Council on Finance and Administration, notes that the financial numbers from the first half of the year have been encouraging, with Ministry Share payments trending upward from last year.
See what percentage of Ministry Shares your church has contributed so far in 2026.
Woolley notes that council members have taken a more active role this past year, reaching out to local churches to offer assistance. The council wishes to continue being a resource for local church leadership as they navigate financial challenges and questions. She also hopes these conversations will provide connectional support and education on the impact of giving here in Michigan and beyond.
“I hope local churches will see the Council on Finance and Administration as a resource for help, encouragement, and interpretation,” noted Woolley. “From a very early age, I was captivated by the fact that my financial gifts could help others around the globe. I hope we can stir up that missional passion across our conference so our churches will see the promise of what we can do together.”
She continued, “I anticipate working alongside our superintendents in this new conference structure to help encourage the financial and missional health across the connection as we embrace the call to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.”
The 2026 Annual Report, released earlier this year, highlights what we can do together through Ministry Shares by loving boldly. Take a few moments to celebrate the transformation happening in communities across Michigan, made possible by the generosity of United Methodists.
Environmental Justice and Advocacy
Ministry Shares from local churches support the work of the Environmental Justice Task Force, which the Michigan Conference Board of Justice launched and which is led by lay and clergy leaders who take seriously the call to care for God’s good creation.
Last year, the task force mobilized faith communities across the state to participate in the Earth Day of Action, with groups planting trees in East Lansing, cleaning up nature preserves in Marquette, removing invasive plants in protected areas in Mount Pleasant, and more.
One upcoming event to note: The task force is sponsoring a lunch-and-learn webinar on October 28, 2026, on the environmental impact of hyperscale data centers popping up around the state and why United Methodists should stand with local communities facing such changes. Learn more about this webinar and how to register.
Ministry Shares help equip United Methodists to care boldly for God’s creation and their communities.
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Ministry Shares support the work of the Michigan Conference Board of Young People’s Ministries, which invests in the next generation of bold, faith-filled leaders through grants, events, and resources.
Fifteen United Methodists from Michigan traveled to Dublin, Ireland, this July for the Global Young People’s Convocation, joining hundreds of youth and young adults from around the world. GYPC provided space for young church leaders to bond, learn what it means to be part of the Wesleyan faith tradition, and envision together how God calls them to take bold action in the church yet to come. Read about the impact of GYPC on Michigan youth and young adults.
Through our Wesley Foundations on college and university campuses across the state, young adults are finding community, discovering their calling, and developing leadership skills to better serve the world. Financial gifts through Ministry Shares bolster these campus ministries.
Two offerings this fall are worth mentioning: A monthly Young Adult Discernment Cohort uses peer support and spiritual practices to walk alongside young adults as they discern their next steps in life. Learn more about this cohort, which begins this fall. The Do-Nothing Retreat, held in October, is for students and young adult professionals seeking rest, renewal, and connection with others. Learn more about this fall retreat.
Starting and Reimagining New Ministries
The Michigan Conference’s Seed to Harvest ministry incubator program comes alongside people with ideas for new ministry and supports them as they bring their ideas to fruition. This program is supported largely by Ministry Shares from local United Methodist congregations.
Thanks to the Seed to Harvest program, innovative ministries have sprung up, including Pastor Karen Kinney’s new ministry at the Silver Bullet Speedway in Owendale, where she loves her community boldly one conversation at a time. Read Pastor Karen’s powerful story.
Upcoming offerings to note: The Michigan Conference’s Seed to Harvest Team will host free informational sessions on September 15 and October 1 ahead of a new cohort forming in January 2027. Learn how Seed to Harvest can help you start something new or reimagine a ministry that needs a spark.
Editor’s note: The Michigan Conference has created a web page dedicated to information about Ministry Shares. Review it to see how much your congregation gave last year and where you are in giving for this year. There are also resources for leaders who are improving communications and education within their congregations as they work toward their financial-giving goals.
Last Updated on September 16, 2026