J. REPORTS · A team from Broomfield United Methodist church delivered water filtration buckets to Haiti. Honoring clean water and helping others to be able to access clean water

J. REPORTS

1. TELLING THE STORY REPORT ...................................................................................................................................... J -2

2. TREASURER’S REPORTS ............................................................................................................................................... J - 11

2.1. Financial Commentary .................................................................................................................................... J - 11

2.2. Budget ................................................................................................................................................................ J - 14

2.3. Historical Rocky Mountain Conference Support of General Church Apportionments .......................... J - 16

2.4. Tithe and Mission Giving Report ................................................................................................................... J - 17

2.5. Conference Statement of Revenue ................................................................................................................. J - 24

2.6. Audit .................................................................................................................................................................. J - 26

3. SHARED FUTURES STATEMENT ............................................................................................................................... J - 44

2015 ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE JOURNAL

2015 Reports J - 1

TELLING THE STORY REPORT

Stories of Renewal of God’s Creation Rocky Mountain Annual Conference 2015

Saturday, June 13, 2015: YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park

(Setting: Everyone is seated in the living room setting with sofa, chairs, coffee table, lamps and end tables.) The photo presentation that accompanied this presentation can be found online. Go to www.rmcumc.org/ac15 and click on “Presentations & Letters”.

Invitation to Stories of Renewal of God’s Creation Youngsook Kang Good morning. It is so good to see you all. At each Annual Conference session we hope to tell the story of how we have cultivated abundant life throughout the Rocky Mountain Conference region and beyond. This year we are telling the story of how we have embraced environmental problems and exercised our stewardship of God’s creation. The theme “Renewal of God’s Creation” was inspired by a Pastoral Letter from the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church entitled “God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action.” The opening sentence of the Letter reads, “God’s creation is in crisis. We cannot remain silent while God’s people and God’s planet suffer. This beautiful natural world is a loving gift from God, the Creator of all things seen and unseen. God has entrusted its care to all of us, but we have turned our backs on God and on our responsibilities.” We are gathered here this morning to share our stories of how we work together to live sustainable lives as good stewards of God’s creation in our churches and communities in the Rocky Mountain Conference. To that end, we asked each speaker to respond to the following questions: 1. How has your work area embraced environmental problems and exercised our stewardship of God’s creation in the recent years? 2. What new ideas, mindset and consciousness would you call for us in order to be the kind of creature we are called to be?” Now, shall we begin with a prayer? O God of life, may your presence be in our sharing. All of our sharing is yours. Amen. Kunle and Margaret, do you want to start? Please tell us the story of how our laity care for God’s creation? Lay Leaders’ Story Margaret Hotze & Kunle Taiwo Margaret: And God looked out over the Rocky Mountain Conference….and saw that it was very good! Do we in this conference ever become immune to the beauty around us? Cindy Snodgrass, from Fowler, CO, writes, “How marvelous is God’s original creation of the world and how important it is that we strive to be God’s serious stewards. In Fowler, we see and celebrate what God created each day. This picture is one of the amazing sunrises that occur in the Arkansas Valley. This photo is provided by James Graham, Sr., who regularly shares his beautiful photos of rivers, moons, sunsets, ---and members of our congregation.” We begin our care for creation by being present to the wonder of God’s creation. Kunle: What could be more beautiful than the Children’s Garden at Calvary UM Church in Colorado Springs? We see in the beauty of these pictures how Calvary is teaching their children about God’s bounty, about how we can be Co-Creators with God in the garden. Their Children’s Garden is a feast for eyes as well as for bodies. Other churches have started community gardens to provide healthy, nourishing food, as well as time for gardeners to join in God’s works. See these pictures from the Limon UMC Community Garden last year. We see first the bare frames, and then the fruits of their labor and God’s good sun and rain. Margaret: And yet, amid the beauty and productivity, we remember Paul’s words to the Romans: “The whole creation has been groaning…” …and in the past few years we have been learning about the many ways our behavior is affecting the earth in negative ways.


J - 2 Reports 2015

http://www.rmcumc.org/ac15

United Methodist Women have been very actively supporting “green” efforts for many years. The ladies you see in these pictures from Karen Bueno have come together for training in the “Be Just, Be Green” principles of environmental stewardship by Miok Fowler, the Western Jurisdiction Environmental Guide. Kunle: Rocky Mountain Conference United Methodist Women received national recognition for hosting a “Zero Waste” meeting in Cheyenne two years ago. You’ll see centerpieces made out of branches, handmade cloth napkins, real silverware and china. It’s not easy to do a meeting with no waste at all – no leftover paper, no paper coffee cups-- but the Cheyenne UMW did a great job. UMW continues to use principles of Environmental Justice in their meetings. Margaret: Many churches in our conferences have recycling programs. These ladies from 1st UMC Fort Collins go beyond just having bins for different types of waste. They actually go through all the trash cans at church six days a week and sort recyclables from trash and compost–and if you watch them at work, it makes you want to learn to throw your used coffee cup in the right receptacle. They figure they’ve saved about 12.5 tons of compostable materials from going into the land fill over the last five years. Compost from the church is now being converted to organic fertilizer. Fort Collins Green Team also got grants from the city to pay part of the price for re-vamping lighting and for computerizing electric and gas usage. Kunle: Caring for Creation means honoring the land, using sustainable agricultural practices. Fair Trade products, such as Equal Exchange, honor small family farmers, allowing them to care for the land and for their families. Many of our churches are now using Fair Trade Coffee and Tea products. Margaret: Yes, and furthermore, Caring for creation goes beyond Rocky Mountain Conference. A team from Broomfield United Methodist church delivered water filtration buckets to Haiti. Honoring clean water and helping others to be able to access clean water – that is mission intertwined with environmental justice. And a work team from our conference helped to dig post holes in Cambodia – not a glamorous way to spend vacation days, but much appreciated in caring for the land. Caring for creation also means caring for all God’s people. Many groups across the Conference have been learning about Human Trafficking, how they can help those who have been trafficked, and what practices need to be confronted to stop trafficking. Kunle: And then, there were those who lived at one with the land, before the coming of settlers. Renewal of Creation, caring for creation, means that we are in relationship with those who were here first. People from Fort Collins 1st UMC make regular visits to Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. These pictures of women and a little girl taken at a Pow Wow reveal their pride in their culture and their deep desire to continue their traditions for the next generation. As we see this picture of baptism at Pine Ridge, we remember that we are all baptized into Christ’s body; in Christ we are one.

Margaret: We rejoice that in our own conference, Pastor Norman Mark is working with the Native Grace Intertribal Fellowship, headquartered in the Cortez UMC. And in Monument Valley, Utah, Pastor Angela Nelson and her son and nephews show off the Navajo language Bibles given to Oljato UMC. These Bibles are gifts from Utah/Western Colorado Native American Ministries and United Methodist Women. We come together to honor God’s written word. Kunle: This is our last picture: an elder gave her coin purse as well as the coins to Native American ministries in the Four Corners area. We can’t look at this picture without remembering the story of the widow’s offering told in Luke 21:2: “All those people gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” May we who have much remember that to whom much has been given, much is expected. We are called to celebrate this journey of growing our relationship with all of creation, and all of God’s people. Kunle: LuAnne, tell us about how your church is working towards conserving resources. Voice from Grace UMC, Cheyenne WY LuAnne Ludwick


2015 Reports J - 3

Throughout the last several years, Grace United Methodist Church of Cheyenne, Wyoming has made several steps towards conserving resources and helping our planet thrive. We have found that little changes make a big difference. Just last fall, many of our light switches were changed out to motion sensor switches that are set on a timer, so that no one ever forgets to turn the lights out when a room in not in use. This coming fall will see most of the lights change to LED bulbs to further conserve energy. In May, the Trustees replaced three toilets with high-efficiency dual flush toilets to reduce water usage in the building. Last year, our children’s Sunday school class made jewelry out of recycled paper beads; theysold the jewelry and bought these recycling bins for use in our Grace Hall. And Right inside our most used entryway into the church is a small recycling station for members to bring ink cartridges and batteries that a member takes for proper recycling so those items don’t end up in a landfill. Last summer, members of Grace added a raised garden to the front of their church for the purpose of modeling sustainability. All ages were involved in constructing and planting the garden, to blessing the garden one Sunday after worship, to having a harvest celebration in the fall with a garden soup pot luck. Throughout the summer on Sundays, the produce was harvested and packaged for member to take produce home for their enjoyment. In October, the children got to harvest mini pumpkins from the garden to decorate. Grace UMC is actively looking for new ways to reduce our carbon footprint and help our planet be healthy and beautiful. LuAnne: Let us join in Litany Response. Litany Response: “May we renew creation, getting our hands dirty, as co-creators of God’s new kingdom” Song: “For the Beauty of the Earth” Verse 1 For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies; Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. Cabinet Story Melanie Rosa The Mtn. Sky Area Cabinets are committed to creation care, and helping resource our congregations to exercise careful stewardship of this fragile earth. Metro District churches take environmental issues seriously. Simpson, First of Golden and University Park set examples all churches can follow. Between them they participated in a community-wide litter cleanup, drastically culled their paper mailing list, established recycle bins, purchased a recycle dumpster for the church and community and changed out light bulbs and fixtures. Highlands UMC is excited to have been certified as Denver's first Green Church. Their Green Team has also worked on various other projects including collecting fruits and vegetables in the neighborhood and donating them to Denver Urban Ministries. Congregations in the Mile High Pikes Peak District are taking seriously the call to be thoughtful stewards of God’s creation. The Rev. Pete Sawtell, director of Eco Justice Ministries was the keynote speaker at our District Conference, reminding us how an intentional web of relationship is built into the very structure of the universe created by God. First UMC Fountain has a community garden, which supports their local farmers market and soup kitchen which feeds between 60-80 people each week. Good Shepherd in Colorado Springs has solar panels which reduce their energy costs, and there are even song birds nesting in them. Grace UMC in Denver also installed solar panels, low flow toilets, and has very low electricity use.


J - 4 Reports 2015

Sunrise in Colorado Springs has participated in erosion prevention projects after the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires. At least 3 days a week one of our District pastors rides his bike to work, and it is one hour each way. Thank you Executive Pastor at St. Andrew, Rev. Andy Dunning you inspire us all. In Wyoming, the people are intertwined daily with the land, water, animals, birds, fish, trees, plants and air around us. To raise environmental consciousness, First UMC of Casper put together a Green Team. Their mission statement reads: “To raise the level of environmental consciousness in our congregation, staff and families. We will become stewards of the earth as God instructs us to be.” The pictures you see are their work in action. Video education. Projects for children and youth. Intentional recycling. Building green in the new church addition. Recycling bricks, concrete and steel beams from the part which was demolished. Collecting used batteries and bulbs for safe disposal. Holding a bike, hike or carpool to church Sunday. In Utah/Western District, Bob Nohavec, a member of Mountain Vista UMC in West Jordan Utah, spearheaded a campaign to rid the congregation of the habit of accepting plastic bags while shopping. He wrote and hand delivered a letter describing this project to local merchants. The results were beyond all expectations; they donated more than 600 cloth bags, which were distributed church members. Each reusable bag replaces 2 plastic bags in carrying capacity. Mountain Vista may now be declared a “plastic bag-free zone” and are proud of their commitment to preserve the beautiful world that God has given us. In the Sunshine District the Beaver Creek camp & Retreat Center in the Rio Grande National Forest received a $5000 grant for the creation of an interactive and educational nature trail for hiking in and learning about the National Forest ecosystem, scheduled to be open this summer. The San Louis Valley church leaders, clergy and laity, join in cooperative parish ministry along with other RMC churches and other partnering non-Methodist churches in the area, to serve on the Beaver Creek Board and support its camping and retreat ministries and operations. They encourage all of us to make the time to leave the concrete jungles and head for the forest; to not just stop and smell the roses, but to recognize that self-care is creation care, and creation care is self-care, and to join us in the Spirit's ministry of reconciliation. It is imperative that we make the time, now, and regularly, and teach our children, how to "be still and know God" everywhere, especially in the wilderness and natural places of beauty still left in our fragile world. In the Peaks and North East Colorado sub districts many people depend upon water, sun and other natural resources for their livelihoods. Every week Jason and Kelly Burghart of Windsor UMC collect a variety of metals to be recycled with the money received going to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene program of United Methodist Committee on Relief. Over $4000.00 has been raised. This amount of money can supply water for a village for life. Pierce UMC bought a large commercial freezer and two commercial refrigerators to help supply food to over 185 individuals every week. This is a way they are reaching out to and meeting the needs of their neighbors. We know many other churches are helping to heal and preserve God’s creation while connecting in deep ways with their neighbors and communities. Thank you! St. Luke is another church who is doing great work. Sallie/Renae, tell us your story! Voice from St. Luke’s UMC, Highlands Ranch CO Sallie Suby-Long or Renae Parra St. Luke’s Center for Spiritual Engagement was created to promote healing and wholeness through innovative opportunities for connection and by providing experiences that inspire and transform. A vibrant part of the Center is our Outdoor Adventure Ministry! Our hope is to do our part in caring for the earth by inviting people to become immersed in nature and inspired by


2015 Reports J - 5

creation. We intend to honor our partnership in caring for the world while we connect with and care for one another. This mutual care begins internally. When we hike in the beauty of the mountains, or go canoeing on the clear water of a lake, or snowshoe on a winter day when the sky is crystal blue, spiritual transformation happens! We experience the healing work of creation, and we connect with ourselves, others and God in a new way. Our gratitude expands and changes us from within. It opens our souls to be in partnership with God’s work in the world and to see our responsibility to care for creation. Here is a video collage of some of our outdoor adventures along with a few stories & thoughts from participants: (Video: St. Luke’s – 1:57 minutes)

Sallie: The result of our engagement in nature is a renewed relationship with all of Creation - Our spirits are restored and refreshed and we grow in our passion to care for all of life and to be who we are called to be! Now, let us join in Litany Response. Litany Response: May we renew creation, getting our hands dirty, as co-creators of God’s new kingdom Song: “For the Beauty of the Earth” Verse 2: For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light; Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. Finance Story Noreen Keleshian & Kirsten Barlow Kirsten: Finance & Administration Ministry is privileged to discuss how our connection supports and strengthens the renewal of creation. Our ability to support Mission & Ministries of Rocky Mountain Conference and global Church depends on the generosity of our churches and members. We thank all of you. You supported renewal and stewardship throughout God’s world in 2014. A portion of your tithe plus mission giving last year went to pay our Apportionments in full for the first time ever. Truly an accomplishment to celebrate! 122 of our churches achieved full 13% tithe plus mission giving approved by the AC. A special thank you to them, they are listed in the program book. Fortunate to have an operating budget surplus in 2014. Surpluses are a blessing that help us maintain ministry programs in years when there are shortfalls in Conference budget. As noted in the program book, the 2014 surplus was transferred to designated funds to further our Conference ministries. CF&A is encouraging the use of designated funds in conjunction with budgeted funds to manage all our resources and be responsible stewards of our Conference ministries. Noreen: Our connectional system means stronger together than on our own. This is also evident in our shared benefits and risk management tools. We work with the GBOPHB to offer excellent benefit plans for our active and retired clergy and families. Several positive things are happening with our Conference benefit plans. The amount we bill churches for clergy pension will go down next year by half a percent. Health insurance rates for active clergy were reduced in January. We are pleased to tell you the increase next year will be only $10/month.


J - 6 Reports 2015

Over past three years funding from Conference budget for retiree healthcare has gone down more than $300,000. We continue to focus on managing the cost of healthcare for retirees, and responsibly combine budget money and investment account earnings to subsidize this cost and benefit both retirees and the Conference. We received a $1 million dividend from GBOPHB last year, thanks to excellent claims experience of active and retired clergy on our health insurance plan. A portion of that dividend will subsidize healthcare for retired clergy. Another portion of the dividend will help active clergy cover future medical expenses – provided the clergy and spouses on HealthFlex participate in the BFW this year, either here at Annual Conference or at a local medical facility. Conference Trustees responsible for property issues and risk management. During 2014 the Conference sold two properties, former Merino UMC and Bethel UMC, Boulder. Proceeds from these sales are available through the Legacy Fund for ministries that enhance vital congregations or assist churches to engage in mission outreach. The Legacy Fund has a report on the annual conference website we encourage you to read. Trustees manage our property and liability insurance plan, which presents another opportunity to leverage our connection. Everyone knows affordable coverage for wind and hail damage is a concern for our Conference. Risk management and effective stewardship continues to be a focus for us. Kirsten: Property, pension, health are necessary costs to achieve our ministries and retain effective spiritual leaders. AC has approved billing churches and Conference entities for these costs. Pleased to report the amounts past due to the Conference at the end of 2014 were at the lowest level since 2009. Thank you for staying current and catching up with these commitments, which benefits all of us. Rocky Mountain Conference churches and members generous, RMC is financially stable. Through April you gave more than $2 million tithe plus mission giving; we believe our $5.6 million budget is achievable. Members of Conference Council on Finance and Administration, Board of Pension & Health, and Trustees listed in the nominations report; please talk with any of us if you have questions about financial and administrative ministries of the Rocky Mountain Conference. Your contributions and commitment undergird and support our ministries to renew creation and steward God’s world, thank you. Kirsten: Mary Beth, tell your Mountain View story. Voice from Mountain View UMC, Boulder CO Mary Beth Downing I am Mary Beth Downing, and I’m here to tell you about our Solar Panel project . Many Factors made this project successful:

First, VISION: Few people can look at the A –frame architecture of our church and not envision solar panels on its south facing roof.

INCENTIVES: In late January 2010, an email came to our minister, Rev. Bill Moore, who forwarded it on to me. Xcel was offering financial support for non-profits to build solar projects. Any extra energy, not used by the projects, would be bought back by Xcel. This was a limited time offer.

SKILLS: This project was brought forward to the trustees, and eventually the Church Council and exploration was approved. A core group started meeting weekly to figure out whether we could make this happen.

RESOURCES: If you ask and you are open, churches have incredible expertise and energy sitting in their pews. You do need at least one extrovert (thank you Arthur!) to invite them in. The next three months were a series of ‘miracles’ as people who knew about something that needed to happen , stepped forward and the project’s energy grew. We had involvement from the Trustees, the Lay leadership, Finance, Church Council, Church staff and outreach/missions.

ACTION PLAN: 1.) Regular meetings, 2.) the LIGHTING PROJECT (where church volunteers changed out all light fixtures to energy efficient ones allowing us to meet our electricity needs with the number of panels proposed.) 3.)


2015 Reports J - 7

Question and answer tables in our lobby to address questions like “Will this make our roof leak? and 4.) Funding provided by the Foundation all kept us moving.

RESULTS: We set a goal of 60 panels to make the project cost neutral. We ‘sold’ solar panel units (part for whole) for $400 apiece. 100 panels were pledged quickly. An All Church Council was held and construction began March 2011.

CHANGE: Our energy conservation plus the solar panel electricity have taken us from buying 75 MWH a year to SELLING 6 MWH a year. This is the simplified version of factors but our project has also eliminated the annual release of roughly 47 tons of CO2 and consumption of 39,000 gallons of water. After paying for all the components, the projected savings over the expected 30 year lifetime of the system is approximately $500,000. Our solar panel project was celebrated on May 1, 2011.

A FINAL NOTE: I loved the question that Youngsook suggested we think about as we ponder the change needed for our future world and our future world as Christians. Hands down, the word that immediately came to my mind was GRATITUDE. The attitude of Gratitude creates openness, reduces fear, and allows the Holy Spirit a chance to work through us. God’s hand guided us. Too often we give up because we lack faith in the power of our God. God’s power is all we need to guide us to the positive changes that must happen next. Thank you.

Mary Beth: Let us join in Litany Response. Litany Response: May we renew creation, getting our hands dirty, as co-creators of God’s new kingdom Song: “For the Beauty of the Earth” Verse 5 For thy church, that evermore lifteth holy hands above, offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love; Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. Mission and Ministry Story Youngsook Kang & Chris Frasier Youngsook: Truly, for the church that lifts holy hands above, we raise this song to God. Our movement of “Caring for God’s creation” is in line with the holiness movement of the Methodist Church. The Rocky Mountain Conference Food & Justice Ministries is a good example of practicing such a holiness movement. Chris: The Food and Justice Initiative of the Rocky Mountain Conference partnered with the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union in exploring alternative models of justice when organizing their local food ministries. Identifying that traditional models of charity can often put a strain on congregations to meet the needs of so many while unintentionally alienating the people it works so hard to serve, Reuben Gregory and Rev. Stephanie Price provided coaching and education to congregations and individuals exploring alternative models of organizing both new and existing food ministries. This initiative is to seek an Alternative Toward an Ecological Civilization. Youngsook: Such ecological civilization is achieved when we seek assurance that the resources we enjoy will be available for the next generation. The Frasier Farm is one of the places that attempts to bring sustainability to resource use through sustainable agriculture. Chris: Our family has ranched on the high plains for five generations, and we’ve seen many trends sweep through our farming communities. Some of these trends prove to be short-lived. But along with our neighbors, we count on healthy soils that will yield a harvest every year. We’ve learned how to build sustainable food production systems that will be still intact when our grandchildren are ready to ranch. Youngsook: I learned so much about cattle grazing when my husband JinHo and I visited Chris at his Frasier Farm last month. For almost thirty years, Frasier Farm employed an ancient approach to cattle grazing that takes advantage of modern technologies. This practice, known as Holistic Management, makes use of large herds of cattle that move frequently among dozens of pastures so that individual grass plants can regrow without threat of overgrazing. It’s modeled after the native grazing herds, like buffalo, that roamed the plains for thousands of years and helped form our short-grass landscape.


J - 8 Reports 2015

Chris: It works like this: yearling cattle are procured from sale barns and brought to the ranch in semi lots of about 80 head. For the first few days, we acclimate them to electric fence and being handled by people. Gradually they are added to herds with our own breeding stock. The mature cows act as matrons of each herd, leading the group to feed and water, and holding the top of the pecking order as is necessary in any herd. Once the cattle are “broke” to electric fence, we can move throughout the ranch with one-wire fences separating them from previously grazed areas. Here is a short video about my cattle and grazing. (Video: Chris Frasier – 50 seconds) Chris- As you have seen in the video, two of us manage the grazing herds. We do it either on horseback, or with four-wheeled Honda ATV’s. We like the working from the saddle, and it’s satisfying to move cattle quietly on horseback, but the distances and number of cattle require us to use ATV’s most of the time. The cattle quickly adapt to our handling methods. It’s critical that they are comfortable being moved every two or three days, so we strive to leave them in a calm, contented state. They soon learn that each move rewards them with fresh pasture, and so one person can drive a thousand head of cattle through a twenty-foot wide gate without adding stress to the cattle or their handler. Well, so much about our cattle and grazing. Now, Randy, what is Arvada church doing for greening? Voice from Arvada UMC, Arvada CO Randy Moorman

The Arvada United Methodist Church Green Team began in 2010 when Rebekah Simon-Peter led the congregation on a Care of Creation retreat. The Green Team was formed with members who were dedicated to making AMUC green. The three main goals were to make the church more energy efficient; more environmentally responsible, and teach members to learn to live a greener life. Starting in 2010 the Green Team worked with the building operations staff to caulk the windows and convert bulbs to CFLs, LED’s and T8 lights. On Earth Day 2011, new worship banners were dedicated that exhibited biblical references to our call to care for God’s creation. All restrooms were installed with bathroom light sensors that automatically turn off the lights. We began recycling by adding recycling containers to each room, reducing the amount of waste we sent to the landfill by 30%. In 2012 AUMC joined the Colorado Interfaith Power and Light, a faith based organization dedicated to advocating for policies that move the world toward healthier, more sustainable ways of producing and using energy. To lead by example, in 2014 AUMC added (290) solar panels to its roof. After making our energy efficiency upgrades and adding the solar panels AUMC has made a big dent in reducing our dependency on fossil fuels. Now we are looking at what we can do to reduce the greenhouse gases that come for our consumption. This year, we conducted a waste assessment and determined that we can prevent more greenhouse gas production by become better at recycling, adding composting and reducing our use of paper. This summer we will kick off our effort to become Zero Waste with our summer picnic. We’ll eliminate disposable tableware and begin composting. We will also look at making our monthly newsletter all electronic (with the option to receive mailed paper newsletters by request), eliminate junk mail and purchase only 100% post-consumer paper. We continue to look at ways to better care for God’s creation. Now, let us join in litany response. Litany Response: May we renew creation, getting our hands dirty, as co-creators of God’s new kingdom Song: “For the Beauty of the Earth” Verse 6 For thyself, best Gift Divine, to the world so freely given, for that great, great love of thine, peace on earth, and joy in heaven: Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.


2015 Reports J - 9

Invitation to be Stewards of God’s Creation Youngsook Kang & Chris Frasier Youngsook: So far, we have heard stories about our local congregations and communities who are doing great work caring for God’s creation in various ways. Now, what is it that we can do when we go home? What responsibilities do we carry with us? What possibilities do we see? Chris: We hope that working under the theme of renewal of God’s creation will help take us closer to our missional front. We hope leaders of Annual Conference are inspired to return home and help their churches/people to face environmental issues and continue to be responsible stewards of God’s creation. We also hope that we develop an awareness of how our faith tradition teaches us to think about and engage in issues of our day such as climate change, food and agriculture. Environmental justice work is part of discipleship ministries. Youngsook: So, today, our invitation is to see connection between discipleship and our actions to care for the earth. The invitation is when we return home we develop a deeper level of our discipleship and understand what is going on in the world and take action and live as responsible stewards of God’s creation. Thank you.


J - 10 Reports 2015

FINANCIAL COMMENTARY TO THE 2015 ANNUAL CONFERENCE Financial Highlights for the Year Ended December 31, 2014

The 2014 operating budget for revenue and expenses was $5.6 million. Actual revenue was approximately $5.7 million and expenses were approximately $5.3 million. This resulted in a surplus for the year of $414,815. We are pleased to report that the Rocky Mountain Conference paid its 2014 General Church and Jurisdictional

Apportionments at 100%. This is an important commitment that we intend to continue. The operating surplus allowed us to carryforward funding to address opportunities to provide future ministry. We invested amounts in designated funds to support: Leadership Development ($30,000); Hispanic/Latino Ministries Missionary ($20,000/year for three years); Whole Church Initiative ($65,000); temporary position of Transitional Ministry Developer ($120,000); and Communications Technology ($50,000). In addition, $20,000 was designated to support our participation in General and Jurisdictional Conferences, $25,000 to pay for Annual Conference expenses, and $40,000 to cover the costs of a church trial conducted in our Conference. Surpluses are an important component of financial management as they generate funds to maintain and grow ministry in years when there is a shortfall. The Conference Council on Finance and Administration is working to use restricted and designated funds in conjunction with the annual budgeted funds to maximize our ability to do ministry. The most significant expense items under budget in 2014 were:

Actual expenses to subsidize healthcare for retired clergy and clergy on disability were approximately $102,000 below budget. Since we began offering healthcare to our retirees through One Exchange, our subsidy has gone down from $713,559 in 2012 to $447,859 in 2014.

Cabinet and Clergy Support expenses were approximately $75,000 below budget. Expenses such as Interim Clergy Support, Equitable Compensation and Sustentation Fund are not needed at the same level year-to-year, and they were $50,000 under budget in 2014. The costs to move active and retired clergy are also not consistently incurred each year, and this item was $11,000 over budget. District Superintendent expenses were below budget because Yellowstone Annual Conference continued to reimburse us for 1/3 of the expenses of one District Superintendent. We experienced some savings by closing the District office located in Greeley.

Conference Office expenses were approximately $98,000 below budget in 2014. We experienced lower expenses due to staffing transitions. Expenses for utilities and building maintenance and repair were also below budget.

The past due amount that churches and other entities owed the Rocky Mountain Conference for property and liability insurance, clergy pension, and health insurance was $273,700 at December 31, 2014, down $78,000 from 2013. The Conference has no debt, and all restricted and designated funds are fully funded. Highlights for the Year 2015

The 2015 budgeted revenue approved by the Annual Conference remained at $5.6 million and through April 30, 2015 we had received approximately 37% of that in tithe plus mission giving. (We had received 40% through April 30th in 2014.) Our revenue budget of $5.6 million for 2015 appears achievable. Our 2015 budget reflects paying our General Church and Jurisdictional Apportionments at 96%. However, we committed to pay them at 100% and intend to do that. If the apportionment payments cannot be met with actual revenue, we will draw on a Conference designated fund to meet that commitment. Prior to 2015, the Conference charged health and pension related expenses for staff compensation, workshops, and health screening to the separate Health and Pension Funds. Beginning in 2015, the Council on Finance and Administration moved these expenses into the general operating budget. We adjusted some budgeted line items in 2015 to accommodate the additional $110,000 in expenses. Key Assumptions for the Budget Year 2016

The 2016 budget is presented by the Conference Council on Finance and Administration for approval by the Annual Conference.


2015 Reports J - 11

Revenue The Council on Finance and Administration has approved a tithe plus mission giving budget of $5.6 million in 2016. This is the same amount that was budgeted in 2014 and 2015. Expenses The budget is based on the Rocky Mountain Conference paying its General and Jurisdictional apportionments at 100% in 2016. We will maintain our commitment to connectional giving while nurturing the roots of our faith and growing our vital ministries. The responsibilities and number of full-time equivalent Conference staff is budgeted per the Personnel Policies and Practices Committee to meet the ministry and administrative needs of the Conference and its members. Conference personnel costs in 2016 will be covered through a combination of the general operating budget and designated funds as appropriate. The Transitional Ministry Developer is a shared Mountain Sky Area position, and 75% of this position will be funded by the Rocky Mountain Conference through a designated fund. The remaining 25% of this position will be funded by the Yellowstone Conference. Designated funds will also be used to cover a portion of staff time spent working on the Annual Conference session, and to supplement the costs of the Hispanic/Latino Ministries Missionary from the General Board of Global Ministries. As mentioned above, the Conference Council on Finance and Administration is encouraging the use of restricted and designated funds in conjunction with annual budgeted funds to maximize our ability to do ministry. We intend to adjust our annual budgets as appropriate based on a consideration of the financial resources available to meet Conference priorities. Benevolence and Program Ministry

The Board of Stewards has combined complementary ministries to more effectively manage and use funding for benevolence and program ministries. These combinations are reflected in the 2016 budget presentation.

The budgets for New Church Development and Congregational Vitality have increased. The budgets for Young People’s Ministry, Leadership Development and Communications were reduced because we have designated or restricted funds we can use to supplement the budgets for these activities in 2016.

Spiritual Leadership Ministry

Our 2016 budget for District Superintendents assumes that we continue to share a District Superintendent for Wyoming with the Yellowstone Conference. The Rocky Mountain Conference pays for 2/3 of the expenses and the Yellowstone Conference supports 1/3 of the expenses for the Wyoming District Superintendent.

Historically we have experienced a larger number of clergy moves in a quadrennium year, and we have budgeted to accommodate a greater volume of moves and some adjustments to the policy regarding payment of clergy moves.

Financial and Administrative Ministry

Conference Office budget includes compensation and related expenses of staff that work with health and pension matters. Prior to 2015, these expenses were charged to the Health and Pension Funds rather than the general operating budget. Conference utility expenses are budgeted to increase due to necessary communications and technology upgrades.

We anticipate the amount needed for the Retiree Health Subsidy will be lower in 2016. Funds will be drawn from investments with the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits if additional subsidy is needed.

The Conference has supported the Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation for many years, and the Foundation has grown so that a Conference subsidy is no longer needed.

Summary Revenue from Tithe plus Mission Giving is budgeted at $5.6 million for 2016, and expenses for General and Jurisdictional Apportionments, Benevolence and Program Ministries, Spiritual Leadership Ministries, and Financial and Administrative Ministries total $5.6 million. This total budget is recommended by the Conference Council on Finance and Administration for approval by the Annual Conference. Comprehensive Benefit Funding Plan


J - 12 Reports 2015

In 2014 the RMC developed its first Comprehensive Benefit Funding Plan. Our Annual Conference is required to approve it annually. Our 2016 Comprehensive Benefit Funding Plan outlines the benefits provided to the clergy and laity of the Rocky Mountain Conference, and our resources and plans to fund these benefits. The Plan addresses pension and retirement benefits, health benefits, long-term disability, life insurance, and other benefits as applicable for eligible clergy and lay staff. The 2016 Comprehensive Benefit Funding Plan Summary document can be found online at www.rmcumc.org/ac15. The Rocky Mountain Conference Comprehensive Benefit Funding Plan received a favorable written opinion from the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits. It was signed and submitted by Kimal James, Chairperson, Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits; Kirsten Barlow, President, Conference Council on Finance and Administration; and Noreen Keleshian, Conference Treasurer and Benefits Officer; and is recommended for approval by the Annual Conference.


2015 Reports J - 13

http://www.rmcumc.org/ac15

2014

Budget

2014

Actual

2015

Budget

2016

Budget

REVENUE

Church Tithe plus Mission Giving 5,600,000 5,715,935 5,600,000 5,600,000

Other Income - 6,152 - -

TOTAL REVENUE 5,600,000 5,722,087 5,600,000 5,600,000

EXPENDITURES

Black College Fund 122,595 128,947 121,709 122,896

Interdenominational Cooperation Fund 24,026 25,290 23,874 24,106

World Service Fund 895,250 942,368 888,709 897,357

Africa University Fund 27,434 28,878 27,234 27,511

Ministerial Education Fund 307,352 323,531 305,104 308,081

Episcopal Fund 261,412 275,170 266,543 289,273

General Administration Fund 108,040 113,726 107,272 108,342

Western Jurisdiction Program & Administration 47,934 50,457 48,439 50,457

TOTAL General and Jurisdictional Apportionments 1,794,043 1,888,367 1,788,884 1,828,023

Board of Stewards 2,850 2,116 2,825 2,825

Justice Ministries 13,810 10,684 17,880 16,500

Racial-Ethnic Ministries 18,397 19,843 21,000 18,000

Acts of Repentance (Sand Creek) 10,000 10,937 10,000 5,000

Ecumenical Ministries 14,000 12,000 14,000 12,000

Disability Connections Committee 250 - 250 250

Status and Role of Women 500 269 500 500

Religion and Race 3,400 3,500 3,400 3,500

Intercultural Ministry 1,500 560 1,500 1,500

Board of Discipleship 500 - 1,400 500

Young People's Ministry 21,500 27,082 23,175 11,000

Board of Higher Education & Campus Ministry 92,800 92,649 97,685 95,000

New Church Development 305,697 305,736 300,000 317,500

Turn Around Churches 45,550 27,162 30,550 27,245

Congregational Vitality - - 15,000 27,500

Leadership Development 31,000 19,867 31,000 20,000

Visioning - - - 2,000

Camp & Retreat Ministries 28,100 28,862 29,500 27,000

Compassion Ministries 23,810 23,351 25,055 24,500

Communications 18,200 7,638 14,600 11,000

Conference Programming Staff 565,502 535,721 627,465 675,462

TOTAL Benevolence & Program Ministry 1,197,366 1,127,977 1,266,785 1,298,782

Nominations Committee 900 94 900 650

Board of Lay Ministry AC 6,900 4,011 8,440 7,870

Board of Lay Ministry 6,800 5,023 6,150 7,880

Lay Leader Support 4,850 1,597 4,320 5,000

Lay Servant 3,600 1,772 4,450 4,600

BUDGET


J - 14 Reports 2015

2014

Budget

2014

Actual

2015

Budget

2016

Budget

Board of Ordained Ministry 32,400 35,151 24,300 27,700

District Superintendent 990,380 947,787 970,795 939,415

District Superintendent Staff 123,320 122,085 126,040 127,690

Cabinet Fund 29,950 33,720 35,000 35,000

Interim Clergy Support 15,000 636 5,000 5,000

District Meetings 3,600 1,348 5,000 1,800

Clergy Moving Expense 90,000 100,971 100,000 138,000

Clergy Maternity/Paternity Leave 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000

Equitable/Minimum Compensation 33,970 13,112 35,970 20,000

Sustentation Fund 14,000 300 5,000 5,000

Clergy Introduction Fund 5,250 9,437 6,000 10,000

Response Team 2,500 - 3,200 2,650

Episcopal Office Support 22,000 22,000 21,000 21,000

Episcopacy Committee 1,350 317 2,700 500

TOTAL Spiritual Leadership Ministry 1,387,770 1,300,361 1,365,265 1,360,755

Council on Finance & Administration 4,000 3,899 5,000 3,000

Conference Office 435,606 337,269 488,071 502,611

Retiree Health Subsidy 550,000 447,859 450,000 405,000

Computer Expense 70,050 61,637 66,340 57,220

Board of Trustees 5,000 2,432 5,000 2,500

Property Administration 53,000 58,689 50,000 58,200

Camping Administration 18,000 18,000 20,000 5,000

Archives and History 1,165 469 3,905 1,909

Conference Board of Pension & Health Benefits - - - 10,000

Personnel Committee 2,250 - 2,000 1,000

Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation 10,000 10,000 10,000 -

Legal 35,000 25,783 30,000 25,000

Audit 20,000 24,000 32,000 24,000

General and Jurisdictional Training 16,750 530 16,750 17,000

TOTAL Financial & Administrative Ministry 1,220,821 990,567 1,179,066 1,112,440

TOTAL EXPENDITURES 5,600,000 5,307,272 5,600,000 5,600,000

TOTAL REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURES

BEFORE ALLOCATIONS - 414,815 - -

Allocation for Leadership Development 30,000

Allocation for Hispanic/Latino Ministries Missionary 60,000

Allocation for Whole Church Initiative 65,000

Allocation for Transitional Ministries Developer 120,000

Allocation for Communications Technology 50,000

Allocation for General & Jurisdictional Conferences 20,000

Allocation for Annual Conference 25,000

Allocation for Church Trial Expenses 40,000

TOTAL REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURES

AFTER ALLOCATIONS - 4,815 - -


2015 Reports J - 15

HISTORICAL ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE SUPPORT OF GENERAL CHURCH APPORTIONMENTS

Year Percentage Paid 1976 92.26% 1977 88.84% 1978 89.97% 1979 86.56% 1980 86.37% 1981 88.01% 1982 81.22% 1983 79.98% 1984 80.16% 1985 79.05% 1986 79.27% 1987 78.28% 1988 79.81% 1989 82.02% 1990 86.00% 1991 88.87% 1992 89.52% 1993 87.30% 1994 86.95% 1995 84.19% 1996 89.60% 1997 89.00% 1998 89.04% 1999 90.26% 2000 88.71% 2001 88.29% 2002 79.88% 2003 81.29% 2004 83.49% 2005 79.67% 2006 82.29% 2007 83.01% 2008 69.73% 2009 80.00% 2010 90.19% 2011 95.05% 2012 97.13% 2013 93.04% 2014 100.00% Goal 2015 100.00% Goal 2016 100.00%


J - 16 Reports 2015

850724 After Hours Denver 11,863$ Yes

850518 Alameda Heights UMC 4,864$ Yes

850108 Arvada UMC 109,148$ Yes

850586 Berkeley UMC 1,765$

850622 Bethany UMC 19,472$ Yes

850666 Brentwood UMC 15,826$

850382 Burns Memorial UMC 23,561$ Yes

850702 Cameron UMC 2,769$

850165 Christ Central UMC, Aurora 600$

850746 Christ UMC, Denver 23,672$ Yes

850781 Edgewater UMC -$

850906 Epworth UMC -$

850154 First UMC, Aurora 6,506$ Yes

851901 First UMC, Golden 20,740$

850633 Ghana Wesley UM Fellowship -$

851045 Good Shepherd UMC, Thornton 19,838$

851730 Goode Centennial UMC 2,449$ Yes

851103 Grant Avenue UMC 2,595$

851147 Highlands UMC 12,102$

851182 Jefferson Avenue UMC 473$

851227 John Collins UMC 500$

850713 Journey of Faith 1,100$

850690 Korean Emmanuel UMC -$

851262 Lakewood UMC 37,131$

851342 Merritt Memorial UMC 300$

851386 Montclair UMC -$

851444 Mountain View United Church, Aurora 750$

850600 Northglenn Asian UM Fellowship 600$

851364 Northglenn UMC 33,586$

851422 Park Hill UMC 27,738$

850850 Phillips UMC 34,371$ Yes

851568 Scott UMC 27,236$ Yes

947542 Simpson UMC 22,857$

000454 Spirit of Hope UMC 16,174$ Yes

851466 St Paul's UMC, Denver -$

850176 Tongan Fellowship, Aurora -$

851546 Trinity UMC, Denver 217,092$ Yes

851125 United Church of Montbello -$

851581 University Park UMC 88,878$ Yes

851626 Warren UMC 4,124$ Yes

851661 Washington Park UMC 47,762$ Yes

852381 Westminster UMC 468$

851785 Wheat Ridge UMC 7,500$

846,409$

TITHE AND MISSION GIVING REPORT

For the Church Year January 2014 to December 2014

Metropolitian District

Metropolitan District Total

GCFA

Number Church Name

Tithe Plus

Mission Giving

Connectional

Giving

Certificate

Awarded?


2015 Reports J - 17

850507 Applewood Valley UMC 28,359$

850542 Asbury Korean UMC 8,081$

854904 Calhan UMC 4,333$

850393 Calvary UMC 61,818$ Yes

850735 Central UMC 26,852$

850484 Columbine United Church 12,542$

850280 Deer Park UMC, Bailey 3,410$

855065 East UMC, Colorado Springs 10,177$

000476 Elizabeth UMC 1,837$ Yes

850757 Ellicott UMC 395$

851136 Evergreen UMC 33,220$ Yes

850267 Father Dyer UMC 48,042$ Yes

850462 First UMC, Castle Rock 56,973$ Yes

855101 First UMC, Colorado Springs 316,322$ Yes

855420 First UMC, Fountain 26,933$ Yes

850438 Good Shepherd UMC, Colorado Springs 25,600$

851023 Grace UMC, Denver 31,702$

851912 Green Mountain UMC 15,240$

850848 Heritage UMC 24,059$

850883 Hope UMC 67,260$

855112 Korean American UMC 36,479$ Yes

851307 Littleton UMC 104,741$

855830 Mountain View UMC, Woodland Park 10,065$

852186 Parker UMC 145,549$ Yes

855282 Peoples UMC 11,629$

850473 Pikes Peak UMC 2,000$

851433 Rush UMC 600$

851557 Simla UMC 355$

851455 Smoky Hill UMC 57,654$

851320 St Andrew UMC, Highlands Ranch 237,230$

852038 St James UMC, Central City 9,205$ Yes

851295 St Luke's UMC, Highlands Ranch 130,129$

855145 St Paul's UMC, Colorado Springs 29,543$

855156 Stratmoor Hills UMC 8,329$

855043 Sunrise UMC 128,958$

850894 Tri-Lakes UMC 95,619$ Yes

855180 Trinity UMC, Colorado Springs 3,568$

852027 United Church of Idaho Springs 850$

850405 Wilson UMC 41,931$ Yes

850575 Zion UM Fellowship -$

Mile High/Pikes Peak District Totals 1,857,594$

GCFA

Number Church Name

Tithe Plus

Mission Giving

Connectional

Giving

Certificate

Awarded?

Mile High/Pikes Peak District


J - 18 Reports 2015

852905 Alger Memorial UMC 4,428$

850278 Blue Cliff UMC 3,673$ Yes

850303 Brighton UMC 37,324$ Yes

850347 Broomfield UMC 206,518$ Yes

852825 Burlington UMC 21,428$ Yes

852860 Cheyenne Wells UMC 5,684$ Yes

850837 Christ UMC, Fort Collins 46,825$ Yes

853660 Community UMC, Keenesburg 8,549$ Yes

852940 Erie UMC 22,100$ Yes

850201 Estes Park UMC 24,987$ Yes

852984 Evans UMC 1,967$ Yes

850198 First UMC, Berthoud 13,732$

852701 First UMC, Boulder 73,190$ Yes

853066 First UMC, Fort Collins 63,899$

853146 First UMC, Fort Lupton 28,988$ Yes

853261 First UMC, Greeley 15,000$

853740 First UMC, Lafayette 27,821$ Yes

853864 First UMC, Limon 12,895$

853900 First UMC, Longmont 58,686$ Yes

853988 First UMC, Loveland 69,941$

854221 First UMC, Pierce 6,610$ Yes

854265 First UMC, Platteville 8,139$ Yes

854540 First UMC, Windsor 13,753$

850872 Genoa UMC 6,822$ Yes

853875 Howard UMC, Woodrow 8,705$ Yes

853501 Hugo UMC 9,852$ Yes

853465 James Memorial UMC 4,097$ Yes

851034 Kirk UMC 2,664$ Yes

853705 Kit Carson UMC -$

851158 Longs Peak UMC 56,391$ Yes

853944 Louisville UMC 13,825$

854026 Lyons UMC 8,967$ Yes

851273 Mead UMC 6,119$

852723 Mountain View UMC, Boulder 58,629$ Yes

851318 Niwot UMC 20,643$ Yes

854301 Rinn UMC 8,139$

852734 St. Paul's UMC, Boulder 12,445$

851592 Stratton UMC 2,289$

851193 Trinity UMC, Loveland 13,745$

853545 UMC of Hygiene 10,356$ Yes

853580 UMC of Johnstown 20,383$

850677 Wellington UM Fellowship -$

Peaks & Plains District Totals 1,040,208$

Peaks & Plains District District

GCFA

Number Church Name

Tithe Plus

Mission Giving

Connectional

Giving

Certificate

Awarded?


2015 Reports J - 19

856207 Adriance UMC 7,435$

856993 Avondale UMC 5,980$ Yes

854788 Beulah UMC 7,559$ Yes

856060 Bowen Community UMC 2,071$ Yes

854868 Bristol UMC 3,103$ Yes

854983 Center UMC 6,667$

855021 Cheraw UMC 2,389$

888888 Community UMC, South Fork -$

857144 Community UMC, Westcliffe 14,464$

855305 Eads UMC 650$

854744 First UMC, Alamosa 12,966$

854948 First UMC, Canon City 15,000$

855384 First UMC, Florence 8,463$ Yes

856300 First UMC, Pueblo 35,233$

856504 First UMC, Rocky Ford 15,689$ Yes

856628 First UMC, Salida 23,340$ Yes

856708 First UMC, Springfield 14,623$ Yes

855464 Fowler UMC 8,997$ Yes

850495 Grace UM Faith Community, Buena Vista 9,660$ Yes

855544 Granada UMC 2,965$ Yes

855668 Haswell UMC 463$ Yes

855704 Holly UMC 7,664$ Yes

856548 Home UMC, Rye 12,016$ Yes

855748 La Junta UMC 16,724$ Yes

855783 Lamar UMC 5,846$

855828 Las Animas UMC 6,740$ Yes

855863 La Veta UMC 11,591$ Yes

855943 Manzanola UMC 1,884$

857190 McClave UMC 5,442$

856025 Monte Vista UMC 8,762$ Yes

856105 Mosca UMC 3,213$ Yes

856140 Olney Springs Community UMC 2,804$ Yes

856184 Ordway UMC 6,447$ Yes

856583 Saguache UMC 1,643$ Yes

856663 Sargent Community Church 12,173$ Yes

851397 SonRise UMC 29,648$ Yes

856823 Swink UMC 2,963$ Yes

856903 Trinidad UMC 9,792$ Yes

856947 Two Buttes UMC 2,016$ Yes

856982 Vineland UMC 12,157$ Yes

857020 Walsenburg United Church 2,200$

857064 Walsh UMC 8,685$ Yes

856388 Wesley UMC, Pueblo 25,733$ Yes

857188 Wiley UMC 7,744$ Yes

Sunshine District Totals 401,604$

Sunshine District

GCFA

Number Church Name

Tithe Plus

Mission Giving

Connectional

Giving

Certificate

Awarded?


J - 20 Reports 2015

858640 Aldersgate UMC 8,723$

850143 Aspen Community UMC 29,519$ Yes

850223 Basalt Community UMC 5,025$

850427 Carbondale Community UMC 10,391$ Yes

857348 Cedaredge Community UMC 10,314$

858946 Centenary UMC 9,369$ Yes

858981 Christ UMC, Salt Lake City 83,091$ Yes

858822 Community UMC, Ogden 24,488$

858104 Community UMC, Pagosa Springs 28,535$

858423 Crawford Community UMC 5,286$

857383 Crossroads UMC, Grand Junction 38,296$ Yes

858081 DeBeque Community UMC 1,970$ Yes

857543 Delta UMC 2,879$

858503 Eureka Community UMC 725$

857428 First UMC, Cortez 24,961$

857623 First UMC, Dove Creek 3,527$ Yes

857667 First UMC, Durango 83,267$

851865 First UMC, Glenwood Springs 20,605$

857747 First UMC, Grand Junction 63,810$ Yes

857986 First UMC, Montrose 43,755$

858786 First UMC, Ogden 17,329$

859028 First UMC, Salt Lake City -$

857350 Friendship UMC 4,003$

857703 Fruita UMC 9,098$

857827 Grand Valley UMC 14,437$ Yes

859132 Ha'amonga 'O Kalaisi UMC 850$

858707 Hilltop UMC 35,487$

858582 Hotchkiss Community UMC 6,376$

857587 Johnson Memorial UMC, Dolores 4,690$

857862 Mancos UMC 12,691$ Yes

857907 Marvel UMC 5,304$

857918 Meeker UMC 20,595$

857678 Mesa UM Fellowship -$

848696 Mountain Vista UMC, West Jordan 23,540$

858068 Olathe UMC 7,793$

858148 Palisade UMC 10,000$

858183 Paonia UMC 9,516$ Yes

858866 Park City UMC 78,320$ Yes

852404 Parowan UM Congregation 2,252$ Yes

858902 Price UMC 129$

857601 Redlands UMC 1,535$

999807 Rifle United Methodist/Presbyterian Church 5,376$

858731 Shepherd of the Hills UMC 44,083$ Yes

858343 St Paul UMC, Copperton 4,705$ Yes

859848 Steamboat Springs UMC 50,637$ Yes

850655 The United Church of the San Juans 3,125$

Utah/Western Colorado District

GCFA

Number Church Name

Tithe Plus

Mission Giving

Connectional

Giving

Certificate

Awarded?


2015 Reports J - 21

858046 Thomasville UMC 1,126$

858616 To Ae Ofa UMC 930$

859030 Tongan UMC, Salt Lake City 9,766$

859108 Tooele UMC 5,169$

858605 Trinity UMC, Kearns 2,000$

851821 UMC of Eagle Valley 18,400$

858651 United Church of Kanab-Fredonia -$

Utah/Western Colorado District Totals 907,798$

Utah/Western Colorado District (continued)

GCFA

Number Church Name

Tithe Plus

Mission Giving

Connectional

Giving

Certificate

Awarded?


J - 22 Reports 2015

852541 Akron UMC 9,094$ Yes

859520 Berta A Penney Memorial UMC 4,870$ Yes

852780 Brush UMC 5,292$

859347 Carpenter UMC 565$

859371 Christ UMC, Casper 8,117$ Yes

854380 Christ UMC, Sterling 7,000$

859451 Chugwater UMC 4,086$

850358 Faith UMC, Cheyenne 9,158$ Yes

851570 Faith UMC, Sterling 2,009$

859393 First UMC, Casper 74,345$ Yes

859416 First UMC, Cheyenne 70,492$

859495 First UMC, Douglas 11,231$ Yes

854072 First UMC, Gillette 19,541$

853421 First UMC, Holyoke 7,138$

859622 First UMC, Laramie 35,044$ Yes

859553 First UMC, Medicine Bow 375$

859666 First UMC, Newcastle 20,256$ Yes

859768 First UMC, Rawlins 9,684$

859804 First UMC, Rock Springs 12,034$ Yes

853022 Fleming UMC 2,205$

853181 Fort Morgan UMC 42,276$ Yes

850360 Frontier UMC 23,497$

859438 Grace UMC, Cheyenne 15,250$

859792 Green River UMC -$

853341 Haxtun UMC 13,881$

859358 Hillsdale UMC 4,875$ Yes

853625 Julesburg UMC 6,721$ Yes

851114 LeRoy UMC 940$

852563 Midwest Community UMC 3,523$ Yes

859941 North Park Community Church 4,487$ Yes

854141 Ovid UMC 4,022$ Yes

851375 Peetz Community Church 240$

859724 Pine Bluffs UMC 7,959$ Yes

853603 Pleasant Valley UMC 7,232$ Yes

859360 Pleasant View UMC 200$

859861 Sundance UMC 13,828$ Yes

859906 Torrington UMC 16,402$ Yes

859928 Upton UMC 8,689$ Yes

859963 Wheatland UMC 10,752$ Yes

854505 Willard UMC 2,315$

854584 Wray UMC 13,831$

854620 Yuma UMC 17,322$ Yes

Wyoming/Northeast Colorado District Totals 530,778$

Conference Totals 5,584,390$

GCFA

Number Church Name

Tithe Plus

Mission Giving

Connectional

Giving

Certificate

Awarded?

Wyoming/Northeast Colorado District


2015 Reports J - 23

Tithe & Mission Giving

Church Tithe 4,747,417.10$

Church Mission Giving 968,517.90$

Total 5,715,935.00$

Special Sundays & Advances

Youth Service Fund 602.52$

Peace With Justice Sunday 11,660.20$

Native American Ministries Sunday 16,495.39$

RMC Global AIDS Fund 13,754.34$

One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday 80,649.92$

World Communion Sunday 19,557.88$

United Methodist Student Day 8,549.93$

Human Relations Sunday 10,521.68$

General Advance 469,300.04$

Black College Fund 210.00$

Denver Inner City Parish 250.00$

Denver Urban Ministries 2,413.00$

Global Hope 150.00$

Grand Mesa Camp 467.33$

Habitat for Humanity Denver 371.20$

Kenya Methodist University 1,450.00$

La Puente 921.00$

San Juan United Parish 717.50$

Transformation Project 500.00$

UNICEF 265.68$

Warren Village 1,305.50$

Wesley Foundation Univ of Colorado Boulder 669.00$

Wesley Foundation Univ of Denver 10.00$

World Service Blanket Fund 1,371.00$

Imagine No Malaria 11,953.93$

Total 654,117.04$

Designated Funds

Golden Cross Sunday 300.00$

AfterHours Denver 90,706.15$

New Places for New People 200.00$

Bishops' Native Peoples Fund 623.01$

Bridge of Love 16,516.82$

Charge Conference Mile High Pikes Peak 414.00$

Charge Conference Peaks & Plains 351.00$

Contributions Received

For the Year 2014

CONFERENCE STATEMENT OF REVENUE


J - 24 Reports 2015

Charge Conference Sunshine 686.95$

WY Sub District Offering and Events 1,012.84$

Children's Health & Welfare Initiative 344.97$

Disaster Fund 13,521.55$

Clergy Covenant Fund 3,924.79$

Ethnic Leadership Development Fund 1,382.32$

Lay Servant Ministries Support 52.50$

Metro District Conference 770.43$

Metro Hispanic/Latino Ministry 1,121.11$

Metro United Methodist Men 4,385.00$

Mile High Sub District Leadership 740.00$

Mission Itineration 2,403.00$

Native American Ministries Sunday, RMC 79.00$

Conference Native American Fund 10.00$

New Church Development 342.00$

Pikes Peak Sub District Leadership 740.00$

Sierra Leone Ministries 75.00$

United Methodist Men 318.87$

Episcopal Residence 12,550.00$

Historical Society 284.00$

Young People's Ministry 10,565.00$

Annual Conference 20.00$

Total 164,440.31$

Miscellaneous Contributions 3,630.96$

Total Contributions 6,538,123.31$


2015 Reports J - 25

AUDIT


J - 26 Reports 2015


2015 Reports J - 27


J - 28 Reports 2015


2015 Reports J - 29


J - 30 Reports 2015


2015 Reports J - 31


J - 32 Reports 2015


2015 Reports J - 33


J - 34 Reports 2015


2015 Reports J - 35


J - 36 Reports 2015


2015 Reports J - 37


J - 38 Reports 2015


2015 Reports J - 39


J - 40 Reports 2015


2015 Reports J - 41


J - 42 Reports 2015


2015 Reports J - 43

SHARED FUTURES STATEMENT

THE MOUNTAIN SKY AREA SHARED FUTURES COMMITTEE LEANING INTO THE FUTURE

June 4, 2015 INVITING: OUR DISCOVERIES AND UNDERSTANDING

Friends, as Easter People, Christ calls us to be recreated anew. We are invited to become a new thing that moves the Mountain Sky Area beyond merger and toward a holy communion of both the Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone Conferences to better serve the forming of disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We want to share our discoveries and understanding.

Both conferences have experienced serious declines in attendance and membership over the past 15 years.

o Yellowstone Annual Conference faces an URGENT situation with 99 active clergy (49 elders), 129 churches, and 13,602 members (as of 2012), is declining at a rate that is no longer sustainable as an annual conference.

o Rocky Mountain Annual Conference is in a FRAGILE state. With 336 active clergy (229 elders), 265 churches, 65,820 members (as of 2012), this conference has witnessed a 13% decline in worship attendance in the last 10 years and continues on a downward trajectory.

The current structures of the Annual Conferences have become burdensome and redundant. By joining together, we can be better stewards of our human and financial resources.

While we honor our distinctive communities and contexts, joyfully we have found there is more that unites us than separates us.

We think the Wesleyan vision of personal holiness and social holiness is more important than ever. We want keep it vital in our congregations and in our region.

We need to face it: what we are doing now is not working.

Here’s the good news: admitting that it isn’t working can be liberating and healing. It gives us the freedom to re-imagine The United Methodist Church, and conference connections, for our area.

We need time to better understand how this can happen and what it will look like.

So, join us on this journey toward new life, continuing the dialog on a deeper level, moving toward vitality, and change.

This is exciting work, and we are convinced we can best do it together.

The Mountain Sky Shared Futures Committee

Yellowstone Conference: Dave McConnell (Bozeman, MT), Co-Chair; Doug Morton (Great Falls, MT); Margaret Nowak

(Chester, MT); Debbie Schmidt (Whitefish, MT); Jeremy Scott (Billings, MT); Alice Swett (Buffalo, WY); David Burt (Billings,

MT), Staff

Rocky Mountain Conference: Janet Forbes (Highlands Ranch, CO), Co-Chair; Steve Burnett (Colorado Springs, CO); Chris

Frasier (Denver, CO); Kristi Kinnison (Greenwood Village, CO); Elizabeth McVicker (Cheyenne, WY); Doug Palmer (Niwot,

CO); Youngsook Kang (Greenwood Village, CO), Staff

Bishop Elaine Stanovsky


J - 44 Reports 2015

SHARING: CONTEXT, VISION, AND MISSION FIELD

As Methodists living in the Intermountain West, what unites us? The Rocky Mountains connect us north to south,

running through our states like a spine. They’re “the backbone of the world,” says the Blackfeet tribe. The five states

in the Mountain Sky area — Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Idaho — stretch across the Continental Divide

like a woven blanket thrown over a horse’s back. Water flows from our upper ranges to the four directions. A rich

harvest of natural resources often follows.

This land is filled with wild contradictions. A day’s drive can cross high and dry plains, sheer mountain ranges, red-

rock formations, and salt flats. It’s an area blessed with vibrant communities but conflicted by competing interests.

We share declining rural towns and sprawling cities, wide-open vistas and crowded resorts. This region’s timeless

landscape is changing before our eyes, and our population is changing along with it.

Our demographics shift with the suddenness of our seasons. Workers in recreation and energy migrate into trailer

parks and man-camps, and then leave just as quickly, their numbers ebbing and flowing with changes in the global

economy. A host of high-tech jobs attract droves of bright, young minds, while dwindling opportunity drains our

rural communities of its most creative children. We share a love of visual and musical arts, world-class museums,

and leading universities. We are cowboys and farmers, movie stars and ski bums, tech gurus and conservationists,

hipsters and retirees, native peoples, immigrants, professors, artists, and laborers. We are divided by an increasing

wealth gap, but united by the love of our western way of life. All together, we are people facing the same

challenges, united by our love of this place, and its people.

And in the midst of these people, we yearn to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ in ways that transform our

communities. We believe that the kingdom of God is among us, and we strive to live here as God intends. We have a

Wesleyan vision for the Mountain Sky Area, where to be a neighbor is to serve those at our doorstep. Together, we

envision safe, non-violent places for children to thrive, welcoming tables of diversity, vital congregations, and new

images of Christian community.

We can imagine not just a new Annual Conference, but a new way of reaching those living in the land we call home:

the Intermountain West. Join us as we seek to spread Wesleyan vitality in the Mountain Sky Area.

LEARNING: UNDERSTANDING CURRENT REALITY IN THE MOUNTAIN SKY AREA

The FRAGILE and the URGENT

The IMAGINE TEAM REPORT of the Rocky Mountain Conference

http://www.rmcumc.org/new/imagineteam.html YELLOWSTONE FUTURES TASK GROUP

http://bit.ly/YACRecommendation

The BOTH/AND CHALLENGES of Improving and Creating

WAITING FOR GOD’S NEW THING: Spiritual and Organizational Leadership in the In-Between Time or Why

Better Isn’t Good Enough

Monograph by Gil Rendle

http://bit.ly/WaitingForGodsNewThing


2015 Reports J - 45

http://www.rmcumc.org/new/imagineteam.html

http://bit.ly/YACRecommendation

LEADING

We recommend to Bishop Elaine that we move forward with two groups.

1. Leadership that builds a NEW ANNUAL CONFERENCE MODEL AND IDENTITY which moves BEYOND

MERGER to a simplified ORGANIZATION, focusing on the basic responsibilities of an annual conference

so that resources are freed for new uses.

This group will bring a petition to the 2016 Annual Conference sessions and to the Western Jurisdictional

Conference, July 13-16, 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Questions that might guide our work:

o What form of denomination will serve us well for the next 50 years?

o What impediments or constraints are we working with that are not necessary?

o What set of rules and principles frame a new identity while we experiment?

2. Leadership that identifies ways that the new Annual Conference can cultivate ministry to spread

WESLEYAN VITALITY in the MISSION FIELD…both in congregational and non-congregational ways.

Questions that might guide our work:

o What do we need to live in the post-denominational world, given the generational shifts, distances, and

demographics?

o What values and principles do we follow?

o What new forms of Wesleyan witness are emerging?


J - 46 Reports 2015

Documents

J. REPORTS · A team from Broomfield United Methodist church delivered water filtration buckets to Haiti. Honoring clean water and helping others to be able to access clean water