Our Church's Wider Mission, It's who we are.

An excellent Power Point presentation on Our Church's Wider mission is available ifrom the United Church of Christ and was downloaded from the UCC web site.

If you wish to see this presentation click on the link below:

OCWM Presentation and other documents

Some frequently asked questions about Our Church’s Wider Mission:

1. What is it?
   Our Church’s Wider Mission (often abbreviated OCWM) is the name we give in the United Church of Christ to everything we do together as a church. Our Church’s Wider Mission funds your UCC Conference and the national ministries of the UCC. Our Church’s Wider Mission has two components: Basic Support, for the funding of core programs; and Special Support, for specific mission opportunities through the four UCC special mission offerings.
2. How much of my offering every Sunday goes to Our Church’s Wider Mission?
   It depends on how much your congregation decides to contribute. Every congregation decides for itself how much to contribute to OCWM. Most congregations give between 5% and 20% of their current local expenses to Our Church’s Wider Mission. This means that local churches use between 80 and 95 cents of every dollar for local ministry and mission. On average, among the 5,633 congregations in the UCC and 39 Conferences, Conferences use about 2 1/2 cents out of every dollar, and the national ministries receive 2 cents out of every dollar given by UCC members.
3. How much total Our Church’s Wider Mission money is received by the national ministries of the UCC?
   In 2005, the UCC national ministries received $14,806,449 in OCWM contributions. This included $5,306,449 in receipts from the four UCC special mission offerings (Neighbors in Need, The Christmas Fund, Strengthen the Church, and One Great Hour of Sharing). These contributions for Our Church’s Wider Mission represent about 2% of total church giving by UCC members.
4. How much money given to Our Church’s Wider Mission is spent on administration?
   In the national ministries of the UCC, 7.4% ($1,100,862) of total Our Church’s Wider Mission contributions are budgeted in 2006 for administration, which includes the costs of overall organization of the national ministries and those parts of salaries, benefits, financial operations, rent, office costs, insurance, and professional fees that apply to administration. Your Conference can tell you how much OCWM money it spends on its own administration.
5. How is giving to Our Church’s Wider Mission different from giving to other good causes?
   Our Church’s Wider Mission keeps the church strong, even as it engages in mission and outreach to others. The church has a unique and important role to play in our society and the world, today and for future generations. You can help sustain the church and its ministries by supporting Our Church’s Wider Mission in your congregation.