Finance and Administration, Conference Council on (CFA)

The Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) continues working on the policies and procedures with the finance staff, forming the budget and other Discipline mandated tasks of CFA.

This past year was another challenging year as we continued to cope with the after effects of the COVID pandemic, church disaffiliations, and the costs related to the Child Victims Act. We are extremely thankful to all the churches that paid their ministry shares in full for 2022 and to those that go the extra mile and pay

And we rejoice with those churches who increased their giving in these challenging times. We continue to work on our policies and practices regarding those churches that are not fully paying their Ministry Shares. Our overall collection rate for 2022 was 78.48%. Our 2022 budget was based on an 81% collection rate. This means that the work of the Conference was not fully funded by your

Ministry Shares and spending was required to be reduced throughout the year.

In proposing the 2024 Ministry Share Budget, we have worked diligently to control and reduce the expenses within the Ministry Share budget. Faced with a reduction in the number of churches due to disaffiliation, we strive to reduce the costs incurred within the Conference budget but also are looking to other ways of funding the missions and ministries of the Upper New York Conference. Our work includes working to reduce the financial obligations of the local churches as we work together to provide the revenue and resources necessary for the financial support of the vital ministries of The United Methodist

Upper New York Conference and around the world.

I offer thanks to the members of CFA (Rev. Naomi Annandale; Rev. Abigail Browka; Roger Cullen; Sue

Godshall; Rich Griffin; Rev. Noel John; Pastor Jenni Piatt; Rev. Gerald Piper; Rev. Grace Warren; Bob Flask;

Rev. Dr. Sherri Rood; Susan Ranous; and Rev. William Gottschalk-Fielding) for their service and ministry; to the Finance Staff, Conference Treasurer and to the Boards of Trustees and Pensions and Health

Benefits, Conference Leadership Team, Executive Staff, and the Bishop for their continued support.

Submitted by Holly E Roush, Chairperson