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Preparing for the
Summer Offering Drought
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Greetings!
This electronic message is a monthly communication to pastors from your United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana. We hope you will find the articles useful and informative. Feel free to print or forward electronically the information in these messages to members of your congregation.
Each issue will give you pertinent articles on annual giving, capital campaigns and/or planned giving. |
Preparing for the Summer Offering Drought
Church attendance is often low and the offering is typically even lower. Church finances during the summer months can be difficult for pastors and finance committee members. Melvin Amerson offers these suggestions for dealing with the summer and the challenges it brings. Read on | |
 Louisiana personal incomes outpacing national average
Per capital personal income for Louisiana residents dropped by 1.7% in 2009, a smaller decrease than was reported nationally. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis, per capita personal income was $35,507 in Louisiana in 2009, compared with $36,091 in 2008. Personal income is the money someone receives from all sources, including wages and salary, government assistance, and from owning property. National per capita personal income fell by 2.6%, from $40,166 to $39,138. Just three states saw per capita personal income rise in 2009, led by West Virginia, which was up 1.8%; Maine and Maryland were the only other states to see increases.
Louisiana's economic outlook continues to improve
A conservative public policy group says Louisiana's economic outlook continues to improve. Louisiana ranked 16th in the American Legislative Exchange Council's economic outlook, up from 18th in 2009. ALEC gave Louisiana high marks for low taxes and a low minimum wage and for being a right-to-work state. The organization says that Louisiana has had the 34th best economic performance over the past decade. That ranking is based on cumulative growth of personal income per capita and non-farm employment, along with domestic migration. Louisiana was hurt by population decreases and a loss of jobs caused by Hurricane Katrina. ALEC ranked Utah as having the best economic outlook, while New York ranked last.
Source: Baton Rouge Business Report Daily Report
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Foundation Celebrates 35 Years  In November, 1975, at the first organizational meeting of the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana, a seed of $5000, donated by Mrs. Charles Cadwallader, was planted. Thirty-five years later, the Foundation manages assets in excess of $119 million and distributes hundreds of thousands of dollars to Christian ministries in Louisiana and the world each year.
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Top 10 Reasons People Give to the Church | | In the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, worshipers rated the extent to which ten factors influence their decision to give to their congregation. Read the list |
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Most Common Tax Mistakes Made by Clergy 
As a clergy person, you already know this, but the IRS agrees: ministers are unique! Sometimes, church members and others incorrectly assume ministers pay fewer taxes than the average tax payer. This is an incorrect assumption. Generally, ministers actually pay more. Find out how to save the church and minister a lot of unnecessary cost and headaches. Read the list | |
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Who Is Giving What? |  What do you do if your church's revenue is down from the previous year? According to J. Clif Christopher, church growth consultant and founder of Horizons Stewardship Company, the biggest question to answer is, what is going on with your top 10 to 20 donors? Pastors must review the donor list. Read the article |
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Wherever faith and money come together, your Foundation is there to help. Contact us for assistance with stewardship services, financial consultation and management. Let's plan for the future of the United Methodist Church together.
Sincerely,
 Rob Fairly President
United Methodist Foundation of LA
 (800) 256-9317 (225) 346-1535 |
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