Preferred Providers for Churches

the foundation is a connecting point for all sorts of ministry resources.

Over the years we have partnered with other excellent organizations in a variety of ways to bring more and better services to the local churches and local church leaders we serve. The following list highlights some of these organizations, and we encourage you to contact them directly or we are happy to make introductions. 

church operations & administration

Nonprofit Risk Management Center

The Non-profit Risk Management Center inspires effective risk management practices and risk management leaders across the nonprofit sector, including churches. They specialize in areas such as youth protection, workplace safety, volunteer management, legal compliance, insurance program oversight, employment practices, governance.  Through the partnership of NRMC and MUMF, all Missouri United Methodist Churches are eligible for their own FREE Affiliate Membership that offers a buffet of self-serve resources. These resources will help churches develop custom risk management plans and policies, and in-house risk expertise. Check out their resources such as webinars, articles, e-books, Risk eNews, and workshops. They will also provide unlimited answers to risk management questions by phone or email.

Ministry Leadership Initiative

Ministry Leadership Initiative specializes in youth and children’s ministry training, adaptive leadership coaching and church consulting for churches of all sizes. Offering a range of services that take a holistic approach to ministry health, MLI can help build your children’s and youth ministry programs through feasibility studies, educating leaders, training volunteers, coaching staff, and untangling organizational issues while also providing theological insight and practical solutions.

Miller Management Systems

Miller Management Systems pairs their dedicated accounting staff with state-of-the-art technology to deliver exceptional financial services to churches in the areas of payroll, accounting, administration audits, accounting training and consulting.

ShareChurch (United Methodist Church of the Resurrection)

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection is committed to providing clergy, church staff and volunteers with practical tools to strengthen the church.  Specifically, the tool available at ShareChurch that can assist church operations and administration is a group of 14 modules designed to present financial practices that are applicable to all churches. Each module is comprised of a short video explaining overall concepts and referencing tools and resources that can be used to implement the concepts.

stewardship & fundraising

Horizons Stewardship

Horizons Stewardship helps churches and faith-based nonprofits grow disciples and fund ministry. As strategists eager to help churches turn God-inspired vision into measurable ministry impact, Horizons works with churches to build annual and capital giving campaigns to sustainably fund ministry in churches of all sizes. 

Lewis Center for Church Leadership

The Lewis Center for Church Leadership promotes effective and faithful practice of Christian leadership in the church and world. Their approach is grounded in helping congregations and denominations reach more people, younger people and more diverse people, helping individual church leadership enhance their effectiveness, and helping congregations secure adequate funding for ministry.

Discipleship Ministries–Stewardship

Discipleship Ministries connects laity and clergy around the world with contextually-appropriate resourcing and materials, training, consulting and networking to support spiritual formation, new church development and revitalization of local churches. Its newest initiative, See All The People, encourages and supports congregations in developing discipleship systems that begin with being in authentic, organic and consistent relationship with those around their churches.

MYTE Ministries

Myte Ministries specializes in stewardship, leadership, and discipleship to provide training, consulting and collaborative leadership to equip leaders, elevate voices and cultivate resources for your favorite mission.  ​Two areas to highlight about Myte Ministries is their narrative budget resource and Bonnie Marden’s five-week webinar cohort, Cultivating the Craft of Asking.  Missouri UM Pastors and laity that complete the five-week cohort are eligible for partial tuition reimbursement through C2FM.

church loans

Wesleyan Impact Partners

Wesleyan Impact Partners offers expertise, opportunities, and competitive rates for church loans. No matter the size of the church, Wesleyan Impact Partners is prepared to help churches navigate the questions and processes around financial lending.

pastor benefits

Your Money Line (YML)

MUMF/C2FM is partnering with Your Money Line, a financial problem-solving network of resources, financial professionals, and services that is now available, at no cost, to every United Methodist pastor appointed in the Missouri Conference. Your Money Line specializes in financial problem-solving like eliminating student loan debt, staying on a budget, and buying a home. To get connected with YML, pastors can call 833-890-4077, or register at yourmoneyline.com/mumf. Your Money Line believes that behavior is the key to financial change, not income level. YML has found that a personal relationship with a trusted financial professional is the best way to fully understand the problem, establish a game plan, and stay motivated for good. The YML Financial Concierge team gives unbiased advice that is not tainted by a sales pitch.

Wespath

Wespath Benefits and Investments is the largest reporting faith-based pension fund in the world and among the top 100 pension funds in the United States. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates Wespath provides administrative and investment services to benefit plans for plan sponsors controlled by or affiliated with The United Methodist Church. Participants in the retirement plans administered by Wespath also have access, provided by Wespath, to EY financial/retirement planning services. MUMF/C2FM partners with Wespath to offer free, in-depth educational programs, both in-person and virtual, designed to inform participants about their investment options and benefits in retirement free of bias or sales pitch.

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Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) Practical Church Leadership (PCL) Certificate Program 

As an inclusive educational community, Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) provides a transformative learning experience that cultivates enduring intellectual growth, ethically grounded leadership, intentional faith exploration and meaningful service. The Practical Church Leadership Certificate program is a flexible, one-year program designed to provide ministry professionals with the opportunity to experience relevant, project-based coursework, to develop projects that will provide a direct benefit to the pastor and the church, and to engage with ministry professionals. MUMF/C2FM has partnered with DWU to fund annual scholarship awards in support of candidates from the Missouri Conference seeking the PCL Certification. C2FM/MUMF coordinates closely with the Center for Leadership Excellence at the Conference to select and invite clergy candidates to participate in the DWU PCL program.

Lilly Endowment

The Lilly Endowment’s primary aim in religion is to deepen and enrich the religious lives of Christians in the United States, principally by supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations. In 2015 and 2016, Lilly Endowment launched the National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders (ECFPL) and awarded grants to 46 organizations to develop programs to reduce or alleviate pressing financial challenges that impair the ability of pastors to lead congregations effectively. MUMF was a recipient of one of these $1 million Lilly Endowment grants. Thanks to this partnership with the Lilly Endowment, C2FM was launched in 2016. The Lilly Endowment also offers grants for pastors seeking financial support for sabbatical leave/renewal.

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general resources

Missouri Annual Conference

The Missouri Conference is the central office for connectional services and support.

Foundation for Evangelism

This national Methodist-related foundation is based in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.  Each year it makes grants supporting evangelistic ministry.  With a focus on churches of 150 or less in worship, the grants help churches to equip disciples to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

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