Vital Signs

• DO report attendance at services held on Sunday as well as any other days of the week. If worship takes place beyond the walls of your building, include that as well.
• DO include worship for special services such as Christmas Eve, Good Friday, etc.
• DO report all persons, including children, who participate in any part of the worship service
• DO NOT report persons who are in your church building during worship times but are not participating in worship (such as nursery workers or other staff).

• DO report youth in Confirmation classes who join the church on Confirmation Sunday.
• DO report adults joining your church who have never been a member of another church.
• DO report those previously baptized who have left the church for an extended period of time and have come back to renew their commitment to the church.
• DO NOT report transfers from other United Methodist or non-United Methodist congregations.

What qualifies as Small Group Participation?
Every church has groups that meet throughout the week, but not every group should be reported here.

• DO report persons engaged in covenant discipleship or other accountability groups.
• DO report small groups that get together for bible study or, in some cases, to provide ministries to your community.
• DO NOT report persons more than once.
• DO NOT report groups that primarily meet for recreational activities like sports.

• DO report persons working on mission teams.
• DO include persons who work in community ministries provided by your local church such as after school programs, food banks, or homeless ministries.
• DO include persons who work as part of the church's support for community ministries with other churches or organizations such as Habitat for Humanity or CROP Walk.
• DO NOT include persons who work in mission and outreach as part of their job.
• DO NOT report persons more than once.

• DO report monies collected during your worship services.
• DO report monies collected for Special Sunday Offerings or a capital campaign.
• DO report monies collected through electronic funds transfer or online giving.
• DO NOT report returns on investments, rents, or fundraisers.
• DO NOT report registration fees or tuition for day cares, schools, or other programs where fees are paid to the church for education or other services.

• DO include the amount the congregations pays for apportionments, Special Sundays, UMCOR Advance offerings, or other United Methodist causes.
• DO include the amount your congregation pays to other organizations doing important ministry that aren’t specifically United Methodist.
• DO include that amount your congregation pays to other organizations in your community where your members are volunteering, such as Habitat for Humanity.