What is World Communion Sunday?
World Communion Sunday is one of six churchwide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church. World Communion Sunday calls the church to reach out to all people and model diversity among God’s children. The special offering provides World Communion Scholarships, the Ethnic Scholarship Program and the Ethnic In-Service Training Program.
When did it start?
According to the 1972 Book of Discipline paragraph 163.b there shall be a World Communion (formerly Fellowship of Suffering and Service) offering to support the division of chaplains and ministries, Crusade Scholarships and the scholarship fund for minority groups.
When do we celebrate World Communion Sunday?
United Methodists celebrate World Communion Sunday on the first Sunday in October.
Can our church celebrate World Communion Sunday at a different time?
Yes! If your local church needs to celebrate a Special Sunday on a different date, that is fine! Do not let the given dates prohibit your congregation from celebrating World Communion Sunday if you have a time conflict.
How does The United Methodist Church allocate the offerings collected on World Communion Sunday?
The treasurer of the General Council on Finance and Administration distributes net receipts, after payment of promotional expenses, to the administering agencies:
- The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry provides scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students of color pursuing ordained ministry, as well as grants for training across all levels of church ministry.
- The General Board of Global Ministries oversees programs and ministries that support leadership development among partner churches and communities in Africa, Asia/Pacific, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and communities of color in the United States.
How can you give to World Communion Sunday offering?
Special Sunday offerings are best collected through your local church. Include your church’s online giving link during worship or through your social platforms. If your church doesn’t have online giving, direct people to the official donation site at donate.gcfa.org/wcs. To give by mail, send checks to GCFA, P.O. Box 340029, Nashville, TN 37203 and put the name of the Special Sunday in the note section.
Where should a local church send offerings for Special Sundays?
Church offices gather donations and send them to the annual conference treasurer, who forwards them to GCFA.
What resources are available to promote and learn about World Communion Sunday?
A resource kit is available online at resourceumc.org/wcs providing everything you need to introduce and celebrate World Communion Sunday. It includes materials for worship, promotion, and age-specific resources to engage all members of your congregation.
