The generosity of the people of the Yellowstone Conference of The United Methodist Church and its partners has enabled it to commit to paying 100 percent of the 2017 General Church apportionments, without having to dig into conference reserves.
This means the financial safety net Yellowstone has worked to establish over the last few years is still intact. Thank you for giving! We are in this together. The Mountain Sky Area is fully connected to the whole church and to the individual conferences that comprise this area.
When the Yellowstone Conference announced back in June an anticipated financial shortfall for 2017, a special Harvest Time Legacy Campaign was launched with the goal of raising $100,000 by the end of 2017. Praise God that the year-end total for the Harvest Time Campaign was $103,000. Additionally, many of our churches worked hard to pay more on their Mission Shares. As a result, we finished 2017 in much better shape because of the generosity of so many people.
Not only did numerous individuals make major offerings to the campaign, but various groups, churches and organizations – big and small – contributed to the Harvest Time Fund. Two of Yellowstone's smallest congregations – Hyattville UMC in Wyoming and Troy UMC in Montana – both gave incredibly significant gifts.
What is especially encouraging is the fact that gifts came from beyond the Yellowstone Conference from those who support our mission and our leadership. Across the denomination we received support: The Rocky Mountain Conference Council on Finance and Administration, the Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation, the Northwest Wyoming Clergy Circuit and the Association of Retired Clergy all made considerable gifts.
Yellowstone Conference will be continuing its efforts with the Harvest Time Legacy Campaign into 2018. The desire is to enter a new relationship with the Rocky Mountain Conference in a very strong position.
From Mountain Sky Area Bishop Karen P. Oliveto: "A big 'thank you' to the people of the Yellowstone Conference for being faithful stewards of God's resources! By paying 100 percent of our general church apportionments, we affirm our connection to the world-wide ministries of The United Methodist Church through which we make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!"
