Understanding Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM)
UCC members help change lives through their giving to OCWM –Our Church’s Wider Mission. Here are a few of the ways your money helps:
Through our Central Pacific Conference,we:
- assist pastoral search committees in local churches find new pastors.
- nurture those who are discerning whether they are called to public ministry.
- Help congregations start ministries that reach out to young adults.
- link people from various churches together to help meet people’s needs.
- teach pastors and congregations best practices to keep children and youth safe.
Through our National UCC offices,we:
- provide a progressive religious voice for justice and peace.
- respond to disasters and human tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina and the Haiti earthquake.
- coordinate the work of short-term and full-time missionaries around the world.
- preach a welcoming and open understanding of Christian faith.
- assist congregations with worship,Christian education,stewardship and other resources.
- finance new church starts and church buildings.
- care for current and retired UCC clergy.
Our Church’s Wider Mission is the name we use to describe the work we do as the United Church of Christ beyond the four walls of the local church –through our Conferences,national ministries,and UCC-related institutions. Our Church’s Wider Mission is also the name we give to the financial support given by UCC members and congregations that makes this broader mission possible.
Our Church’s Wider Mission,often referred to simply as OCWM,has two parts:OCWM Basic Support and four OCWM Special Support (Special Mission Offerings).
Our Church’s Wider Mission Basic Support provides funding for the work of UCC Conferences and for the work of the UCC’s national ministries. Each congregation decides how much of its members’financial support it will contribute to Our Church’s Wider Mission Basic Support. Congregations send their OCWM gifts to the Conference. Each Conference decides what percentage of those gifts to keep for the work of that particular Conference,and what percentage it will send to the national setting of the UCC. The Central Pacific Conference retains 75% of Basic Support and forwards 25% to the National UCC. Contributions from individuals to their congregations comprise the funds from which OCWM Basic Support is given to the Conferences and national ministries.
The Special Mission Offerings of the United Church of Christ
One Great Hour of Sharing received $3,048,840 in 2008. The offering helps provide clean water,food,education,health care,small business micro-credit,emergency relief,and advocacy / resettlement for refugees and displaced persons. It also supports domestic and international disaster preparedness and response.
The Christmas Fund received $1,597,486 in 2008. The offering provides pension and health premium supplementation to low-income retirees,emergency assistance to clergy families in need and Christmas gift checks to hundreds of annuitants.
The Neighbors in Need offering,which supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the U.S.,received $1,419,476 in 2008. The offering also helps support the UCC’s Council for American Indian Ministries as well as justice advocacy and direct service projects supported by Justice and Witness Ministries.
The Strengthen the Church offering received $505,552 in 2008. The offering supports the StillSpeaking Ministry of the United Church of Christ,leadership for new churches and renewing churches,programs for youth and young adults,and leadership development. Conferences retain 50% of all gifts to this offering.
Is your church 5 for 5? If your congregation received all four of the offerings shown above and contributes to Our Church’s Wider Mission Basic Support,your church is 5 for 5!