Much giving by the United Methodists is voluntary in that sense. However, to abandon the apportionment system would change more than the system of the church finance. It would abandon the unique gift of United Methodism to be both local and connectional, and with it the recognition that we are members not only of a local church, but also of a denomination with a worldwide mission. Thus far, the finely crafted balance between local and connectional has made the whole church much stronger. However, the future stability cannot be predicted for certain.
New occasions teach new duties.
The sociological base of the church and the mission needs it confronts has changed dramatically through the years. However, the fundamental understanding that we are both connectional and local has not. Used under License.