The Episcopal Fund was one of the original general apportioned funds of the UMC?
The Episcopal Fund was one of three general apportioned funds which were a part of the financial plan of the Methodist Church from the time of its unification in 1939. It continued as the source of funding for the office of the episcopacy with the unification that created the United Methodist Church in 1968. All funds collected for the Episcopal Fund are sent by the Conference Treasurer's Office to the General Council on Finance and Administration on a monthly basis and are then distributed back to our Bishop's Office on a regular basis. All active bishops are paid the same salary based on General Conference action each quadrennium.
ABOUT THE EPISCOPAL FUND (EF)
Bishops have always had a very special role in our church, elected and consecrated to speak to the church and from the church. The Episcopal Fund pays for the expenses of active bishops and for the support of retired bishops and spouses. Whether presiding over annual conference sessions, surveying disaster damage, meeting with district leaders or planting a tree, bishops accept what the apostle Paul called "a noble task" (1 Timothy 3:1). It is practical as well since our bishops are responsible for the oversight and promotion of both the temporal and spiritual interests of the church. This fund was one of the three general apportioned funds which were part of the financial plan of the Methodist Church from the time of its unification in 1939. Your support, through your congregation's faithful giving, is what makes the shepherding ministry of our bishops possible. Today the bishops of The United Methodist Church are providing spiritual leadership to more than 12.4 million persons in a broad range of settings on four continents, including North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
