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Below are some frequently asked questions about World Communion Sunday. If you have additional questions, please contact us and we will try to answer your question.
What is World Communion Sunday?
When is World Communion Sunday celebrated?
Can our church celebrate World Communion Sunday at a different time?
Can students receive scholarships for graduate work?
Does the World Communion Sunday offering financially support studying in another country?
Why must recipients be U.S. racial- or ethnic-minority or international students?
Does any of our offering pay for administrative costs?
What exactly will the World Communion Sunday offering go to?
Can I give online to World Communion Sunday?
Where can I order World Communion Sunday resources?
How much was given to World Communion Sunday in the last 3 years?
Where should a local church send the money that is collected on a special Sunday?
What is World Communion Sunday?
World Communion Sunday is one of the six churchwide Special Sundays of The United Methodist Church. World Communion Sunday provides scholarships for U.S. racial- and ethnic-minority students and international students, on both undergraduate and graduate levels.
When is World Communion Sunday celebrated?
World Communion Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday in October.
Here are the dates for the coming years:
10-3-2010
10-2-2011
10-7-2012
Can our church celebrate World Communion Sunday at a different time?
Yes! If your local church needs to celebrate World Communion Sunday on a different, date, that is fine! Don’t let the given dates prohibit your local church from celebrating World Communion Sunday if there is a time conflict.
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Can students receive scholarships for graduate work?
Yes, students can receive a World Communion Scholarship for graduate work.
Does the World Communion Sunday offering financially support studying in another country?
The World Communion Sunday offering could potentially support studying in another country IF there is no local program that would provide the same education and experience AND if there are funds available. The study program must be directly responsive to the mission work of The United Methodist Church, including and especially addressing the elimination of poverty, global health, congregational development and leadership development within the church and community.
Why must recipients be U.S. racial- or ethnic-minority or international students?
Recent statistics for The United Methodist Church show the majority of clergy (89.2 percent) are White, and figures for laity are similar (86.8 percent). Yet the U.S. Census paints a somewhat different picture, classifying 80.1 percent of the U.S. population as White. As U.S. demographics continue to change, the church must prepare leaders to serve an increasingly diverse population, and the scholarships funded by the World Communion Sunday nurture new leaders for church and society.
Crusade Scholar Jean-Michel Basquin studied at South Dakota State University. Equipped with a doctorate in rural sociology, his goal is to help the Methodist Church of his native Haiti “to shape a better future for the country.” Reflecting on his scholarship, he said, “I can’t be thankful enough. That scholarship is exactly what the church needs to fulfill its global mission. It empowers people so they can empower others.”
Half of the offering provides Crusade Scholarships for international and U.S. racial- and ethnic-minority graduate students. Thirty-five percent of the receipts support Ethnic Scholarships for undergraduate students. Fifteen percent funds Ethnic In-Service Training Program scholarships for racial- and ethnic-minority persons seeking second careers in church-related vocations.
Does any of our offering pay for administrative costs?
Each of the ministries that rely on support from the individual offerings contributes collaboratively to the promotion of these six churchwide Special Sundays.
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What exactly will the World Communion Sunday offering go to?
The World Communion Offering is divided as follows:
50% - Crusade Scholarship program (at least 1/2 must go beyond the United States)
35% - Ethnic Minority Scholarship program
15% - Ethnic Minority In-Service Training program.
Can I give online to World Communion Sunday?
Yes, you can give to the World Communion Sunday offering at any time. Donate Now.
Where can I order World Communion Sunday resources?
Follow this link to order resources for your church to celebrate Native American Ministries Sunday.
How much was given to World Communion Sunday in the last 3 years?
In 2010, 912,720 was remitted, in 2009, $930,878 was remitted, in 2008, $1,028,865 was remitted and in 2007, $1,205,022 was remitted.
Where should a local church send the money that is collected on a special Sunday?
Local churches should forward the offering to the conference treasurer’s office.
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