World Communion Sunday FAQ
from www.umc.org
Also view this YouTube
video explaining more about this special day.
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 distribute the offerings received 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:
Special Sunday offerings are best collected through your local church. Church offices gather donations and send them to the annual conference treasurer, who forwards them to GCFA. The official denomination donation web site is "donate.gcfa.org/wcs".
To give by mail, send checks to:
GCFA, P.O. Box 340029, Nashville, TN 37203
Please put "World Communion Sunday" in the note section
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 distribute the offerings received 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.
Special Sunday offerings are best collected through your local church. Church offices gather donations and send them to the annual conference treasurer, who forwards them to GCFA. The official denomination donation web site is "donate.gcfa.org/wcs".
To give by mail, send checks to:
GCFA, P.O. Box 340029, Nashville, TN 37203
Please put "World Communion Sunday" in the note section