Funding
Mission Central is defined as a "program related" and "financially separate" entity with regard to its relationship with the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church.
As a "program related" organization, Mission Central is governed by a 27 member Board of Managers, composed of representatives of the 9 Districts in our Conference, all major demographic groups of our Conference, Conference Leadership (including the Bishop) and 5 at large members with no specific ties to our Conference. The activities of Mission Central are determined in such a manner as to be consistent with our tenants as United Methodists and to be consistent with the social principals of our denomination. While operating in this fashion, Mission Central works with many denominational, non-denominational, and independent faith based groups as well as public and private agencies, as it seeks to help people in need locally, nationally, and internationally.
As a "financially separate" entity, Mission Central does not receive any financial support directly from the Conference and is not part of the Conference operating or mission budgets. Mission Central is funded by "second mile giving" (that which is given voluntarily beyond any shares of ministry of other financial programs of the Conference).
Mission Central's Board of Managers established this relationship in order to remain critical of the ministry's functions and to remain focused on the practice of extraordinary stewardship of what is provided to the ministry. By pledging to raise all of the funding needed, it was determined that if Mission Central was in fact doing what God would have us do, then He would lift people, churches and organizations up to provide for our needs! If this was not happening, then the Board would use this as part of its discernment process to review our direction and see what God would have us do next!
Although Mission Central maintains a very close working relationship with UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), Mission Central does not receive financial support from UMCOR.
