06/04/07

Extension ministries luncheon at Annual Conference
Anyone in conference extension ministries who plans to attend the luncheon on Wednesday, June 13, at Noon during Annual Conference should let Sandy Smith know about their attendance as soon as possible.  The luncheon will be held in the Hilton Hotel in Greenville.  Sandy Smith has to let the hotel know the number of meals to prepare.  If you will be attending, please let Sandy know this as soon as possible:  smsmith@nccumc.org or call 1-800-849-4433, ext. 242.

Materials for Annual Conference mailed to members
Annual conference members should have received a Book of Reports, Book of Handouts, and a copy of all resolutions.  These documents should be taken to conference, June 13-16 in Greenville.  Any questions, call the Conference Secretary, 1-800-849-4433. 
Updates to these documents, including changes in the agenda, are available on the conference website, NCCUMC.ORG, under 2007 Annual Conference.

Local churches should not participate in political campaigns
As the focus grows on future political elections, churches are reminded that organizations exempt from income tax under the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) may not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.  The Internal Revenue Service has issued Revenue Ruling 2007-41 to provide guidance on situations that may or may not be considered to fall under these guidelines.  If your church has involvement in election matters or activities, you are encouraged to read the situations listed in the Revenue Ruling to make sure your involvement is not in violation of the guidelines.  The Revenue Ruling can be found on the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-07-41.pdf.   (An article on this topic was printed in the June issue of the NC Conference Christian Advocate ).