How Ministers Can Talk About APF

From Rev. Vail Weller

Your role is a unique one in the congregational system; you are the spiritual leader, the preacher, the teacher, and in some cases, the author of the budget. You help educate our congregations about the importance of stewardship as a religious concept, and you inspire them to support the congregation, and the Association, with their gifts.

President Susan Frederick-Gray has said: “In order to meet the challenges of our time, we are called to do three things. We are called to be responsive and robust. We are called to recognize the reality of our interdependence. And we are called to renew the covenant that connects us.”

We are asking that you help inspire the congregation you serve to prioritize giving to the Annual Program Fund. For those who have long been champions of this giving, thank you! For others, we want to partner with you and offer you whatever support we can.

APF Program Goals

  • Ensure the financial health and growth of our congregations in a time of change.
    The APF will base contributions on a percentage of certified expenditures, rather than purely on number of reported members.
  • Ensure the resources to meet the changing needs of Unitarian Universalists.
    We have created a program that is responsive to the realities of congregational life, and based on congregational ability to pay.
  • The APF will incorporate national as well as district / regional contributions into the formula, emphasizing the fact that “we are all one UUA.”

Please read the detailed description of the APF formula.

I welcome conversation with you anytime. Please contact me at vweller@uua.org if you’d like to schedule a time for a phone call or a zoom chat.

Thank you for the precious gift of your ministry.