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Apportionments District Superintendents' Fund

For most people, a district superintendent is the most visible and acces­sible connection to the larger United Methodist Church. This is .the person who most actively represents the local church to the annual conference and vice versa. In fact, the district superintendent "is an extension of the bishop," according to the Book of Discipline. We call the district superintendent when there is a crisis in the parsonage family. The pastor contacts the district superintendent when there has been a disaster, or some other crisis, in the church or the community. The district superintendent conducts a charge conference for each church each year, and when the church is acquiring or disposing of property-that is an average of 45 to 50 charge conferences per year for each superintendent. Most leaders in the local churches know their district superintendents.

The District Superintendents' Fund provides support for our 12 district superintendents. The largest single item in the budget of this fund is, of course, their compensation. The base compensation, including utilities, is 157 percent of the average compensation of the clergy in the annual con­ference. An additional $3,000 is added to the base amount to help cover business expenses for which they are responsible. These include continuing education, entertainment, meals in connection with meetings in the district, books, journals, vestments, phone calls, etc.

The District Superintendents' Fund must also cover the cost of all expens­es related to approximately 20 Cabinet meetings per year-lodging, meals, mileage and other expenses. It also pays the expenses for superintendents when they serve as liaisons to various councils, committees, commissions, ministry teams and agencies as representatives of the Cabinet.

Months may pass when you do not sense that your church has need of the services of a district superintendent. Even during that time, your su­perintendent is representing and caring for you. When the time comes that you need the direct services of a district superintendent, it is good to know one is there for you. In the meantime, you can be certain other pastors or churches have needed and received direct help from one who is "an exten­sion of the bishop."