• This is a financial form local churches use to send funds for their share of conference/global ministries, special offerings, and other payments to the Annual Conference Treasurer’s Office, detailing exactly how the money should be applied. It ensures proper credit and accountability for donations, directing funds to their intended purposes.
• Special Sundays, Conference and General Advances, Camping Campaign, etc.
• We provide a local church remittance form that church treasures can use to remit their payments. The form includes a line for your Shares of Ministry, a listing of all the Special Sundays, some commonly used Special Offerings, and a space to enter your own offerings. Be sure to include contact information in case we need to contact you with questions regarding your payment.
• Key Components
  • Church ID Number
  • Apportionments
  • Special Sundays/Offerings
  • Pension/health insurance payments
  • Conference Advance Specials
  • Total Remittance

• Tracking What Matters: Helping Congregations Grow and Thrive
• At the Susquehanna Conference, we believe in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Since 2010, we’ve provided tools and resources to help every local church grow in vitality. Vital Signs is an online dashboard designed to help congregations focus on areas of mission and ministry that drive real, lasting impact.
• By recording weekly statistics, local churches and conference leaders can see trends, plan for growth, and support spiritual development across the Conference.
  • “More than simply numbers, we are recording a story of lives reached, touched, and transformed for Christ… we can live as those who are ‘Alive in Christ Together!” - Rev. Michael Bealla, former DCM

Why We Track Vital Signs

• • Tracking ministry activities helps churches measure discipleship, not just count it:
    • Counting - how many people participate in worship, small groups, outreach, or giving
    • Measuring - how far your ministry reaches and transforms lives
  • These statistics tell a story of growth and impact and help leaders make informed decisions for the health and vitality of their congregations.

What We Measure Weekly

• • Vital Signs reflects the “most basic functions” of a congregation, similar to how doctors check a patient’s vital signs. We track:
    • Worship attendance (in-person & online)
    • Professions of faith and reaffirmations of faith
    • Small group participation
    • Fresh Expressions of new ministries to reach new people
    • Mission outreach involvement
    • Total offerings received, including mission and ministry support
    • Stories of God’s presence in your church and community

How to Enter Data

• • Pastors receive a weekly email with a link to their church’s data entry page.
    • Pastors with multiple churches receive a separate link for each congregation.
  • Links are permanent - bookmark them for convenience
  • Pastors may delegate entry by providing an alternate email to Amy Wynn
  • Previously submitted data can be reviewed and corrected for up to four weeks after posting.

Exploring the Dashboard

• • View data at Conference, District, or Church level
  • Graphs and gauges show trends for:
    • Membership & worship attendance
    • Baptisms & professions of faith
    • Giving & Shares of Ministry
    • Volunteer engagement & outreach
  • Data helps leaders act proactively, rather than guessing, to ensure fruitful ministry

Resources & Support

• • Vital Signs Quick Guide for Local Churches (PDF)
  • FAQ about Vital Signs Dashboard (PDF)
  • UM Vital Congregations Website
  • Vital Signs - What Should I Report 

• You will use the Annual Conference Statistics website, https://stats.gcfa.org (make sure to read the Overview before using the system)
• Your username is your 6-digit General Conference Number (also known as the GCFA ID or GCNO). If you are unsure what your number is, you can use the form below.
• The Book of Discipline requires every church submit this report by the end of January each year. It also requires that the appointed or assigned pastor in church is ultimately responsible for the timely and accurate submission of the report - even if others do the work. (BOD ¶340.2c) (2) (f)
• Daycare/Preschool Expenses
  We want to make you aware of a significant Annual Statistics change for our AC in what we report to General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA). Effective with the 2023 data submission we are no longer going to include any church owned Daycare/Preschool expenses in ANY of the data we submit. The reason for this change is simple, other annual conferences do not include this data and we have paid more in general church apportionments because we have included these costs. However, we still need the daycare information and will collect it.  Again, there should be no costs associated with Daycare/Preschools in any of line items in the data submitted to GCFA. Instead, use the form located at https://form.jotform.com/253642938352059
• Deadline to Complete Statistical Reporting is February 13, 2026 for the 2025 year.
  If you need help with your account and you have read the Overview and FAQ first and then, email support@susumc.org or call 717.766.7054.
  
  • Each year, all local churches are required to submit a statistical report. The report is a numerical summary of membership, worship, attendance, our ministries, our spending and income and more for the previous calendar year.
  • It is the responsibility of the pastor to complete the port on time and accurately.
  • Churches cannot update after the deadline. Any input, updates, corrections, etc after the submission date will need to be made through the district office. District and Conference reviews of each report occurs up until February 13, 2026. so please be prepared for any follow up questions or requests for additional info.
  • The Book of Discipline states that one of the administrative responsibilities of the pastor is “to give an account of their pastoral ministries to the charge and annual conference according to prescribed forms.” Once the statistics are reported to the conference, they are compiled and checked for accuracy. This bishop and cabinet use the statistical reports to assist in the clergy appointment process. The results assist local churches in identifying ministry areas that are extraordinarily successful and in determining the success of ministry and discipleship plans. The information also is used by annual conferences to calculate local church apportioned funds and by the general church to apportion local conferences.
  • Guidance for Counting Online Attendance from GCFA
    • For online views, count anyone listening online for whom the church has evidence of participation. This can be done through online check-in process or through analytic software associated with your streaming platform. Confirm that the analytics demonstrate that the person viewed the worship for a significant portion. Create a standard and stick to it consistently. Be aware that some platforms’ analytics - like Facebook - will even count someone scrolling by as a hit. You should filter down to those who “attended” a significant portion of your stream. This method isn’t perfect, and it likely may account for not counting groups of families watching together. Just remember that you are trying to report accurate and fair information to the best of your ability.
    • Additional suggestions: Taking attendance in online worship certainly isn’t as simple as counting heads in pews. But don’t despair - there are ways to do this responsibly, some already in use and recommended by annual conference and churches across the connection. These tips were complied with assistance from almost a dozen annual conferences that respond to a request from Discipleship Ministries for them to share the guidance they’ve been offering to pastors, as well as input from GCFA
      • Remember why we count - number represent people and people matter. Every person who watches on YouTube, participates on Zoom, messages on Facebook Live is a child of God. They matters that your church has given them a way to worship
      • Most churches offer online worship via Facebook Live, YouTube, or Zoom, with some streaming directly from their websites. Each of these platforms offers some statistics, usually including (at least) number of views and length of views.
      • Be careful not to simply count the number of views as attendance. A casual "scroller" on Facebook or someone searching for something else on YouTube may come across your church’s worship service and be counted
      • Count only viewers who stay with a service for a minimum of 20 minutes
      • The most accurate count will come if people “check in” in some fashion and indicate how many people are worshipping with them. This can be done on Facebook Live and Zoom, and churches can set up other online tools for this as well.
      • Because many online services are recorded and then watched at times other than Sunday morning, attendance trackers also need to decide when to cut off counting. Sunday night, Monday morning, or Monday night are all commonly recommended.
      • Most important: be consistent. Whatever method you choose, stick with it (at least for a while). This is the only way to get a meaningful view of your online worship life at year’s end.
    • Finally, focus on engagement, not just attendance. Pay attention to greetings and prayer requests in the chat, look for likes, comments, shares, subscribers, requests for connection, and giving patterns. Think about ways of connecting worshippers with one another. Respond to expressions of interest, and of course. Keep track of all of this. Even though it won't show up on your annual reports, these are some of the most meaningful ministry metrics you can have at hand.

• A Charge Conference is the annual gathering of a pastoral charge’s leadership, presided over by the District Superintendent. It is the primary way that local churches connect with the broader connectional structure of The United Methodist Church. Voting members include all appointed clergy, church council members, and retired clergy or diaconal ministers associated with the congregation.
• These conferences typically take place in the summer or fall, though additional sessions may be scheduled with the approval of the District Superintendent. Conferences may be held on church grounds or another designated location, and sometimes multiple charge conferences occur in one setting on the same day. A secretary is appointed to document the proceedings accurately.

Purpose of Charge Conferences

• Charge Conferences ensure alignment, accountability, and continuity in ministry. Their responsibilities include:
  • • Reviewing and evaluating the missions and ministries of the charge
    • Approving lay leadership appointments for the upcoming year
    • Adopting budgets for all congregations within the charge
    • Recommending candidates for ordained, lay, or other forms of ministry
    • Setting salaries and compensation for pastors and staff
    • Supporting the formation of satellite congregations (with Superintendent approval)
    • Reviewing annual membership records
    • Electing a church historian
  • “The Charge Conference shall be the connecting link between the local church and the general church… its primary responsibilities are to review and evaluate the total mission and ministry of the church, receive reports, and adopt objectives and goals recommended by the church council in keeping with the objectives of The United Methodist Church (❡247.3).”

Preparing for a Charge Conference

• Completing paperwork on time is key to a productive conference. Deadlines vary by report, but all churches share the same due dates. Pastors are ultimately responsible for ensuring reports are completed and submitted correctly.
  • Tip: Start early and use the checklist to track due dates. Contact your District Office with questions well in advance.

Why Charge Conferences Matter

• Charge Conferences are more than an administrative requirement. They provide:
  • Connection: Linking local churches to the wider United Methodist Church
  • Accountability: Ensuring leadership and ministry align with denominational standards
  • Planning: Setting objectives, budgets, and goals for the year ahead
  • Recognition: Celebrating ministries, leadership, and faithful stewardship
• Completing the reports, reviewing ministry impact, and engaging in these annual gatherings ensures that your church remains vital, organized, and connected to the wider mission of Christ’s Church.