Grants for the Methodist Church
The overarching organization of the United Methodist Church is the General Conference, which is divided into jurisdictional conferences. Each jurisdiction represents several conferences, which are largely defined physically by the states they occupy. Conferences comprise districts, which consist of congregations.
Grant programs vary by jurisdiction and conference, but the United Methodist Church is a connectional denomination, "a vital web of interactive relationships," the church's "Book of Discipline" notes.
Concerns addressed in one jurisdiction or conference, therefore, often find expression in others.
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General Board
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The General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church awards grants to congregations and other groups engaged in social justice ministries.
"Peace with Justice" grants fund education about and responses to violence and militarism, measures to mitigate the effects of injustices against racial and ethnic persons and efforts to pursue economic justice. In 2010, 15 Peace with Justice projects shared $50,000.
"Ethnic Local Church" grants support the work of local ethnic congregations toward social justice by providing education, advocacy and leadership training and development. In March 2010, the board awarded $205,295 in Ethnic Local Church grants.
"Human Relations Day Grants" provide funding for projects focused on needs of non-violent juvenile youth offenders facing chronic social problems or concerns, such as housing, employment, health care, human rights, education, the environment and racism. The board approved $131,422 in Human Relations Day grants in March 2010.
At Jusidictional Level
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The Renfro Trust Fund provides money to help in the establishment and support of United Methodist churches in rural areas of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church. Efforts involving a new or existing church building in open country, a village, or a town of 10,000 or fewer people may qualify for a grant of up to $5,000. Repairs focused on structural integrity of the building may be funded. The fund does not provide support for work to build or repair a parsonage.
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At Conference Level
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The Commission on Disabilities of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church provides three types of grants.
A congregation that has identified an architectural barrier to access and has formed a plan to remove it may qualify for an accessibility grant. Common projects include ramp construction, installation of platform lifts and bathroom renovations
Efforts to ensure the means of full participation in the life of the congregation may earn a program grant. Fundable expenses include purchases of Braille literature and assistive listening devices, and wages for an interpreter for people who are deaf.
Respite care grants fund efforts to provide respite for caregivers in the church and the larger community surrounding it. The creation of a new respite program or support for an ongoing effort may qualify.
Church Helping Churches
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The most immediate source of information about funds for a local congregation of the United Methodist Church is the superintendent of the district in which the church lies. The district superintendent will certainly know of assistance available at the district and conference level and may also help a congregation find a partner church within the district. Two or more congregations sometimes form partnerships that enable them to share physical and human resources. Such working relationships have the effect of gifts in kind.
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References
- "The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church"; United Methodist Publishing House; 2000
- General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church: GBCS Grants
- General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church: Peace with Justice grants 2010
- General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church: Ethnic Local Church grants
- General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church: Human Relations Day grants 2010 awards
