Contributions to Per Member Asking (PMA) received by the Office of the General Assembly in fiscal year 2021 (FY21) through November 30 total $922,648.
The total is $133,152 (16.9 percent) more than the $789,496 “Bare Bones Plus” budget projection to support the EPC’s Collaborative Ministries, Connectional Support, and Custodial Operations. However, PMA support in the first five months of FY21 (which runs from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021) is $23,474 less than the $946,122 contributed in the first five months of the previous fiscal year (FY20). November PMA support of $141,742 lowers the 12-month rolling average for monthly PMA contributions to $197,425—approximately 2.6 percent less than the rolling average as of November 30, 2020.
“The year 2020 could be described in many ways, not least of which is ‘financial uncertainty,’” said Jeff Jeremiah, EPC Stated Clerk. “Yet despite the hardships they have faced, our congregations have demonstrated their commitment to the EPC by supporting PMA so strongly. I am grateful for their faithfulness and generosity.”
Of the $922,648 received, $184,530 (20 percent) was contributed to EPC World Outreach.
In addition to PMA contributions, $2,187,026 in designated gifts were received through November 30. This total was $70,792 (3.1 percent) lower than the $2,257,818 in designated gifts received in the same period in fiscal year 2020—which included nearly $300,000 in donations to the Emergency Relief Fund in response to Hurricane Dorian. If those gifts are not considered, giving to designated funds is up more than $223,000 (11.4 percent).
Designated gifts include support for World Outreach global workers and projects, and contributions to EPC Special Projects such as Emergency Relief, church planting and revitalization initiatives, and the EPC’s Thanksgiving and Christmas offerings.
Of the total, $2,165,187 was designated for World Outreach workers and projects, and $21,838 was designated for EPC projects. These amounts only reflect gifts received and distributed by the Office of the General Assembly, and do not reflect donations given directly to WO global workers or other projects.