General Council on Finance and Administration

07/20/2026

Today, as family, friends, and members of The United Methodist Church gather to celebrate the life of Deaconess Clara Ester, we give thanks for her extraordinary witness of faith, courage, and service.

Clara's life was shaped by a deep commitment to justice and Christ's call to serve others. As a young woman, she was present at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis and rushed to aid Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. after he was shot, a moment that strengthened her lifelong commitment to advocacy and compassion.

Among her many contributions to The United Methodist Church, Clara faithfully served as a deaconess, National Vice President of United Methodist Women (now United Women in Faith), a General Conference delegate, and a tireless advocate for communities in need.

May we honor Clara Ester not only by remembering her remarkable story, but by continuing her legacy of faith, justice, and servant leadership.

"Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." — Micah 6:8

Please join us in praying for her family, friends, and all whose lives were touched by her ministry. ❤️

The lifelong United Methodist, who died July 9 at age 77, was inspired by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to fight injustice. She went on to inspire countless others as a deaconess and servant leader.

05/26/2026

We are excited to share this important opportunity from the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women as they continue equipping the church for safer, more compassionate ministry.

04/01/2026

Today, we welcome Caitlin Congdon as she begins her role as General Secretary of GCFA.

In her first message to the connection, Caitlin shares her heart for faithful stewardship, collaboration, and supporting the mission of The United Methodist Church in this important season.
🎥 Watch her message: https://youtu.be/fZLDSQ06dyU
📖 Learn more about Caitlin: www.gcfa.org/general-secretary
Join us in praying for Caitlin as we step forward together in this work.

Is your ministry interested in professional services designed for ministries? We can help:Service Areas:Communications & Marketing: https://www.gcfa.org/serv...

03/24/2026

What’s happening at GCFA this month? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IuAigufQD4

Our February Monthly Minute highlights key updates, helpful resources, and ways we’re supporting the church across the connection.

Stay connected by signing up for The Collaborator: https://www.gcfa.org/subscribe

Is your ministry interested in professional services designed for ministries? We can help:Service Areas:Communications & Marketing: https://www.gcfa.org/serv...

03/02/2026

Faithful generosity continues to sustain shared ministry around the world.

The GCFA Board met this week in Nashville to review 2025 year-end financial results and celebrate the commitment of United Methodists across the connection.

Board members also honored Rev. Moses Kumar in his retirement and welcomed Caitlin Congdon as General Secretary, marking a meaningful leadership transition for the denomination.

We give thanks for faithful stewardship — and look ahead with hope.

GCFA Announces Year End Financials, Seeks Prayers for New General Secretary

03/02/2026

Thanks for sharing!

Churches nationwide are experiencing a rise in scams that impersonate pastors through urgent emails and texts requesting money, gift cards, or sensitive information—putting congregants and staff at risk.

01/07/2026

Did you know that Windows 10 support ended last year? Don't worry, it's not too late to upgrade to Windows 11. This latest version of Microsoft’s operating system is designed with enhanced security, better performance, and a more user-friendly experience—making it an excellent choice for churches and ministry teams.

With Windows 10 support ending on October 14, 2025, now is the perfect time to upgrade to Windows 11. This latest version of Microsoft’s operating system is designed with enhanced security, better performance, and a more user-friendly experience—making it an excellent choice for churches and min...

01/06/2026

Planning for 2026 becomes easier when you fully understand what happened in 2025. This on-demand webinar shows how to analyze giving patterns, engagement shifts and attendance trends so you can set goals based on real data rather than guesswork

As ministry leaders look ahead to 2026, strategic planning rooted in real data is more essential than ever.Join us for a dynamic session designed specifically for pastors and church administrators, where we’ll explore how to turn insights from 2025 into growth strategies for your church.  This w...

01/04/2026

This on-demand webinar helps ministry leaders review 2025 giving, attendance and engagement metrics and translate those insights into a clear plan for 2026. We include practical tools for budgeting, vision casting and goal setting. Ministry Brands is a proud partner of GCFA UMC. Watch here:

As ministry leaders look ahead to 2026, strategic planning rooted in real data is more essential than ever.Join us for a dynamic session designed specifically for pastors and church administrators, where we’ll explore how to turn insights from 2025 into growth strategies for your church.  This w...

12/29/2025

Church growth and church health depend on strong systems. This Guide to Healthy Church Operations, at a robust 170 pages, shows how to build long-term operational stability so pastors and staff have more time for people and ministry impact. When teams run smoothly, the church flourishes.
Ministry Brands is a proud partner of GCFA UMC.

Download the free guide

Maybe you’re looking for a blueprint for healthy church operations.
Or, maybe you simply know you need to iron out some of your church processes. Either way, with over 40+ years of experience serving churches, we want to help you.