News about DMC -- Sharon McCart

News from the DisAbility Ministries Committee of The United Methodist Church

"We are treated as...unknown, and yet are well-known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything." 2 Corinthians 6:8b-10.

Last Friday, August 11, 2017, at our annual face-to-face meeting, the DisAbility Ministries Committee of The United Methodist Church was informed that the Global Health Division of the General Board of Global Ministries will stop funding us as of May 31, 2018. After many years of being our home in the United Methodist structure, they no longer have a mandate in the Book of Discipline to include us in their budget. In fact, our committee was quietly erased from the Book of Discipline altogether, without our consent or knowledge.

However, the Book of Discipline still gives Global Health responsibility for unspecified disability ministries. Although this no longer includes funding, they will still provide health-related grants, support in the form of publicity, housing our Advance, a link to our website on theirs, and in other ways yet to be agreed upon.

So what does this mean? It means we need to do more and better fundraising. It means that both grants and our operating expenses will come out of our Advance, unless and until we secure a new source of funding. It means that we will continue our work despite this challenge.

We are pursuing many opportunities and ways to have a home once again. Or maybe we will find a way to be self-supporting and independent!

What it does NOT mean is that we are closing down. You can still contact us for resources, trainings, and help. We are still here to serve you. Thank you for your support!

Sharon McCart
Chair, DisAbility Ministries Committee of The United Methodist Church