Grants Available for Local Church Racial/Ethnic Ministries

NASHVILLE, Tenn. May 30, 2024/Discipleship Ministries/ – Grants up to $10,000 will be available this fall from Discipleship Ministries to strengthen leadership training, small groups, worship, stewardship and spiritual formation in ethnic local United Methodist churches.

The application deadline for Racial Ethnic Local Church Concerns (RELCC) grants is Sept. 10.

“Discipleship Ministries is grateful to be able to serve The United Methodist Church by offering support to ethnic local churches and other entities that develop disciples,” said Naomi Hope Annandale, executive director of research and strategic evaluation at Discipleship Ministries. “We have been thrilled to learn about new ministries launched with previous RELCC grants that bring youth to Christ, support recent immigrants and strengthen parents, among other projects.”

RELCC grants are made available each year, with priority given to new programs. Funds are not provided for salaries, equipment or ongoing building costs.

For more information, go to bit.ly/3vSgb5G or contact Naomi Annandale by phone at 615-340-1743 or by email at [email protected].

Applicants must apply online at ypm-umc.smapply.io and are welcome to consult with Discipleship Ministries staff for guidance in preparing the application. Additionally, this year, Discipleship Ministries will offer a one-hour webinar on July 1 to help guide potential applicants in preparing their applications. Applicants are highly encouraged to participate in the webinar. Please email Naomi Annandale to register and she will provide a link. The webinar will be recorded and available for those unable to attend.

Applications must be for a ministry or project of a local United Methodist church or of the United Methodist connectional system. In addition, they must:

• Contribute directly to the mission and ministries of making disciples of Jesus Christ
• Be consistent with the doctrine and social principles of the United Methodist Church
• Focus on developing and strengthening the racial ethnic local church for witness and mission
• Be related to one or more of the essential services provided by Discipleship Ministries, such as accountable discipleship, Christian education, curriculum resources, evangelism, family and life-span ministries, lay ministries, leadership development, spiritual formation, stewardship and worship
• Be led primarily by racial ethnic church members

“We look forward to receiving this year’s applications and see it as an opportunity to serve and to learn as we grow in Christ together,” Rev. Annandale said.

The mission of Discipleship Ministries is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, Discipleship Ministries is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.UMCdiscipleship.org, the Press Center at www.UMCdiscipleship.org/about/press-center or call the Communications Office at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 1726.