Other Streams of Income! We have shouted about this for decades. The fact is there are many AME’s who have tapped “other streams” for a while. Rental properties, investments/endowments, and community-wide fundraisers which do not rely on the offering plate or the congregation for the bulk of the income. The General Church has a stream of income hidden in plain sight: The Reserve/Endowment funds.

The retiring CFO boasted $10m of reserve/endowment assets. It seems a sizeable sum is there, and in the AME Future Fund. Has anyone asked the question: how much are we earning on our invested reserve/endowment funds?

This brings us to a more important question: why is not Investment Income an income line item for our General Budget?

We have passed the reasonable point of delayed distribution from investment gains. Now is the time to receive an annual distribution of $200k from Investment Gains.

Look at the positives: 1. $200k is less that 5% of investments which should be realizing a greater gain (no dipping into principal), 2. The distribution is enough to offset the budgetary expense (contribution) of $132k/year TO endowment. 3. The few additional funds realized would also be enough to bring the Wilberforce Community College (19th District) allocation in line with the other main educational institutions. 4. It will set a positive example of the benefit of endowment funds. 5. It could establish incentive for the cultivation of endowment as an alternate income stream.

Endowments are critical factors in the present and future AME Church at both the general and congregational level. Endowment distributions are, in fact, a stream of income beyond the offering plate. The folk need to see this advantage. The budget, for the sake of transparency, needs a line item for investment income to the Budget of the Church.

Will the General Board and the General Conference insist on Investment Income as a budget line item?