United Mission Toolkit

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What is United Mission?

United Mission is a simple yet intentional way that American Baptists contribute to a shared financial fund that is designed and used for mission and ministry that has an impact across the whole American Baptist family. With a large portion of United Mission funds contributing directly to the mission efforts and ministries of the 33 ABC regional entities, the Office of the General Secretary, and the Board of General Ministries, all of which are accountable to and informed by our member congregations, United Mission funding supports efforts on all levels of our denomination as well on our shared mission fields. Portions of United Mission also directly support services provided by our national ABC partners.

The above chart shows the way that United Mission is distributed among ministry partners. Gifts to Love Gift are divided with 85% going to United Mission and 15% going to American Baptist Women’s Ministries.

 

How to participate in United Mission:

United Mission Basics are undesignated contributions from local churches to the vital mission and ministry of American Baptists. Basics provide support for the extensive foundation of American Baptist missions.

United Mission Love Gifts are contributions from American Baptist women in support of American Baptist ministry, given over and above United Mission Basics.

Whether congregations and individuals give to United Mission via regularly-scheduled contributions throughout the year or annual one-time gifts, through church budgets or special offerings, your faithfulness shows your commitment to being United in Christ Together in Mission as an entire American Baptist denominational family.

 

Giving Forms

To view Giving Forms and Instructions, click here.

United Mission contributions provide the largest portion of support and are the very foundation for all American Baptist Mission. They are distributed on a percentage basis according to the covenant agreement between Region organizations, International Ministries, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), Ministers & Missionaries Benefit Board (MMBB), American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA, Office of the General Secretary), and career development centers.

Click here to learn about the four special annual offerings collected by American Baptists.

Watch our NEW United Mission video below (also available in Spanish here):

 

Helpful Links

The Generosity Project is a collaborative effort between ABCUSA, regions, and local congregations.  The Generosity Project aims to help pastors re-frame the conversation around stewardship and generosity in their congregations. Bi-monthly blogs help support new growth and understanding as we deepen our ministry and discipleship. 

Webinars

A number of stewardship-related webinars have been produced by ABCUSA’s office of Mission Resource Development to date.

The Generosity Project Presents: A Live Zoom Event with Tod Bolsinger

Beyond the Offering Plate: Stewarding Life and End of Life
Presented by  Rev. Dr. Campbell B. Singleton, III

Embracing Stewardship: Looking Through the Lens of Love
Presented by Rev. Dr. Henrietta Carter

Financial Stewardship in Times Like These: What You Can Do
Presented by Rev. Margaret Marcuson

Stewardship of Space: Thinking Beyond the Sanctuary
Presented by Rev. Stacy Emerson and Rev. Julie Flowers

Financial Stewardship in an Era of Covid 19: What You Can Do
Presented by Rev. Margaret Marcuson

The Generosity Project: “We Are Better Together: Cooperative Stewardship”
Facilitated by Rev. Dr. Marie Onwubuariri, Associate General Secretary for Mission Resource Development, ABCUSA Office of the General Secretary, with:
Rev. Laura Ayala, First Baptist Church of Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Rev. Jesús García, Iglesia Bautista de Metropolis, Carolina , Puerto Rico
Rev. Dr. Eugene Downing, New Hope Baptist Church, Denver, CO
Rev. Anne Scalfaro, Calvary Baptist Church, Denver, CO

The Generosity Project: Strengthening Stewardship in Times of Struggle
Presented by Rev. Trevor A. Hyde, Jr.

The Generosity Project: Stewardship and Pandemic 
The resources shared during the webinar can be found here.
Presented by Rev. Stacy Emerson

Tech Forum on Stewardship – offered by ABC of New York State
The presentation shared during the webinar can be found here.
Presented by Rev. Stacy Emerson

Living Out God’s Love: 4 TED Talks on Stewardship
The presentation shared during the webinar can be found here.
Presented by Grace Pomroy

The Generosity Project: Money and Your Ministry
The presentation shared during the webinar can be found here.
Presented by Margaret Marcuson

Preaching about Giving with Gumption & Grace
Please view this short video here before watching the recording of the webinar, below. (During the recorded webinar a video is shown without audio. )
The presentation shared during the webinar can be found here.
Presented by Rev. Anne Jernberg Scalfaro

The Generosity Project: Yeast, Salt, and Light: A Recipe for a Moving, Meaningful, and Mission-Focused Stewardship Ministry
Presented by Marcia Shetler, Executive Director/CEO of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center

Stewardship For All Generations
The presentation shared during the webinar can be found here.
Presented by Grace Duddy Pomroy

Preaching about Stewardship
Presented by Rev. Dr. Christine Roush, Director of Discipleship for the American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS)

The Generosity Project – Money and Your Ministry
Presented by Rev. Margaret Marcuson
Rev. Margaret Marcuson helps ministers do their work without wearing out or burning out, through ministry coaching, presentations and online resources. Find her at margaretmarcuson.com.

The Generosity Project – Can We Talk? About Money? In Church? 
Presented by Marcia Shetler, Executive Director/CEO of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center

Generosity Project – The Personal is Communal; the Individual is Corporate
Presented by Lisa Harris-Lee, Director of Mission Engagement and National Network Initiatives for the American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS)

Stewardship & Generosity Trends 
Presented by Marcia Shetler, Executive Director and CEO of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center
View full resources from this Webinar here.

UNCOMMON CENTS: A Christian Approach to Modern Stewardship & Giving
Presented by Reverend Bill Keane, Senior Minister of the First Baptist Church of Branford, CT

How to Lead in Stewardship – Raise More Money with Less Stress
Presented by Rev. Margaret Marcuson

These webinars were produced by the office of Mission Resource Development, American Baptist Churches USA. This ministry is made possible because of your generous support of United Mission.

Generosity Project Blog Posts

How to participate in United Mission:

United Mission Basics are undesignated contributions from local churches to the vital mission and ministry of American Baptists. Basics provide support for the extensive foundation of American Baptist missions.

United Mission Love Gifts are contributions from American Baptist women in support of American Baptist ministry, given over and above United Mission Basics.

Whether congregations and individuals give to United Mission via regularly-scheduled contributions throughout the year or annual one-time gifts, through church budgets or special offerings, your faithfulness shows your commitment to being United in Christ + Together in Mission as an entire American Baptist denominational family.

 

Giving Forms

To view Giving Forms and Instructions, click here.

United Mission contributions provide the largest portion of support and are the very foundation for all American Baptist Mission. They are distributed on a percentage basis according to the covenant agreement between Region organizations, International Ministries, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), Ministers & Missionaries Benefit Board (MMBB), American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA, Office of the General Secretary), and career development centers.

 

Click here to learn about the four special annual offerings collected by American Baptists.