Conferences Make the AUF Number One in 2025 Giving

14 Feb Conferences Make the AUF Number One in 2025 Giving

United Methodists demonstrated strong commitment to global mission in 2025 through their support of the Africa University Fund (AUF). Twenty-two annual conferences gave 100 percent of the amount they were asked to contribute, while four others came within a fraction of the goal at 99.1 to 99.9 percent.

The Africa University Fund ended 2025 at number one among the seven general church funds with 88.6 percent of the asking invested by local churches. The AUF enjoyed strong participation and increased giving across all five jurisdictions in the United States. Take the Northeastern Jurisdiction as an example: Seven of the 10 conferences achieved 99 percent or higher in their giving. The New York Conference delivered 137 percent, which helped the jurisdiction end the year at 100.2 percent overall investment in the AUF.

“This level of support in a year when General Council of Finance and Administration (GCFA), the church’s finance agency, asked that we prepare for a collection rate of around 50 percent speaks volumes,” said James Salley, president and chief executive officer of Africa University (Tennessee) Inc.

“It’s proof positive that relevance, impact and commitment to Wesleyan values matter to the people in the pews. We asked them to keep their support at the 2016 general church budget level and to find us congregations willing to accompany a student through four years of college with prayer, encouragement and funding and they showed up,” Salley added.

Even with a reduced asking, the number of conferences reaching full participation rose significantly, from 17 in 2024 to 26 in 2025, signaling strong connectional support for the university’s mission.

“This reflects a shared understanding that Africa University is a vital expression of The United Methodist Church’s mission to educate leaders for the continent and the world in a Christian environment,” said Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, chair of Africa University (Tennessee) Inc. Board of Directors and resident bishop of the Alabama Panhandle Episcopal Area.

The increase comes during the first year of the new 2025–2028 denominational budget, which included a churchwide commitment of $1,272,632 for the AUF in 2025—about 40 percent lower than the previous quadrennial budget.