The local church report/year end statistical report for 2008 is to be filed no later than January 31, 2009. The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church sets this date, and it is vital that the date be honored, as reports need to be sent to the Council of Bishop, the General Council on Finance and Administration and to the Annual Conference in the timely fashion.

DATES TO BE HONORED:

January 5, 2009 is the last date for sending your apportionments payments to the Conference Treasurer’s Office for credit in 2008. This will allow for the payments to be posted and included in your 2008-year end report for accurate reporting.

January 31, 2009 is the date by which all churches are to have filed their year end report with the Conference Statistician.

HOW IS THE REPORT TO BE FILED?

For most congregations, they will file their report via the Treasurer’s Internet Reporting System found at: http://www.eagle.gcfa.org. For congregations without internet access, they should contract the Conference Statistician to secure a paper copy of the report. This should be done by January 1 to allow time to collect the data, prepare the report, and submit the report by the January 31^st deadline.

The T.I.R.S. requires a login and a password. This information will be mailed to each congregation in November. If you wish the information sooner, please contact the Conference Statistician. You have the option of changing the login and password.

FILING YOUR REPORT VIA THE INTERNET:

Log onto the system
Make sure the year selected is 2008
Click on Reports
If you go to the column on the right (after clicking on reports) you will find a link for printing a blank church report.

Request tables I, II, and III and print a copy of the entire report
This will contain data from the 2007 report to use as a guide in filling out the report for 2008

When you are ready to enter data for 2008 go to Add/Edit Tables and begin entering the data.

Line 1 of table I will already to be filled in. You will not be able to change this number but adjustments can be made should the number be wrong.
You may save your data at anytime and return to complete the report at a later time.
When you have completed entering the data, print a copy for review and then submit the report. It is important that you actually submit the report. Saving the report is not the same as submitting it.

Accuracy is extremely important as selected data from table II will be used to determine apportionments.
If you need to make changes to any line item after you have submitted your report, send the information to the Conference Treasurer who will make the corrections.

WHO CREATES THIS REPORT?

This report is created by the General Council on Finance and Administration. Generally, changes are made every four years. The Annual Conference has the ability to make “slight” modifications to the report to meet the needs of the Conference.

WHAT IF YOU NEED HELP?

1. The Conference Statistician is usually in his office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 9:00 A.M. to 12 Noon at 248.851.2330

2. You can also reach the Conference Statistician via email: pastor.wbumc@sbcglobal.net

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE REPORTS ARE FILED?

1. Each report is audited by the Statistician

2. In March each congregation will receive a copy of their “audited” report for their review.

a. It is expected that churches will review the report and report all corrections to the Conference Statistician before the beginning of Annual Conference.

3. Reports are filed with the General Council on Finance and Administration, the Council of Bishops and the Annual Conference.

FORMS FOR USE BY LOCAL CHURCHES:

1. Worksheet for pastoral compensation: http://www.umc-detconf.org/localchurchreport/sheet.pdf

2. Why Table III: http://www.umc-detconf.org/localchurchreport/table3.pdf