District Missional Engagement Grants Awarded

posted on May 18

District Missional Engagement Grants Awarded

Our Missional Engagement Team met on Wednesday, May 10, to receive Spring 2023 grant requests. We are delighted to make the following grants:

• To Centenary UMC in Greensboro - $11,000 for Ministry with the Forgotten, a Dementia Support group. This ministry is in partnership with Newlyn Street UMC, Bass Chapel UMC, and our Lay Servant Training team. It encompasses lay training across the district and start-up training costs for support group leaders in multiple district settings.
• To Covenant UMC in High Point (on behalf of Northwood Community Center) - $10,000 to expand their meal program, create additional pantry storage areas, and add new elements of community outreach at the Eastchester location.
• To Bethany UMC in Liberty - $3,000 to create Church in the Garden, a collaborative community garden in partnership with First UMC Liberty, creating worship and fellowship opportunities as well as producing produce for the community. Fun fact – an elementary-age child started the bedding plants from seed early this spring.

We are grateful for the opportunity to award these grants, which are your apportionment dollars at work. Our hope is that more churches will apply this fall. Thank you to Brian Dodd, Chair (member of New Salem UMC), and to all the clergy and lay members of our Missional Engagement Team.

Next week, our Church Vitality Team meets to receive their grant requests, and we look forward to hearing about their awards very soon!

And speaking of grants, you may have heard about our Conference receiving a major grant from the Duke Endowment to support the creation of new faith communities and the work of existing churches in both of our North Carolina Conferences. We are pleased that a part of this grant will fund the ministry of Andrew Baten in Southeast Guilford County in his role as a community pastor. Here is an excerpt from the announcement:

The Duke Endowment grants will fund a range of initiatives, including resources for training and equipping pastors and lay leaders, developing innovative ministry programs, and embracing forward thinking as the conferences refocus and regear for this season of ministry. The grant will also provide the conferences a strategic opportunity to better understand the needs and opportunities for new faith communities and congregational revitalization in this post-disaffiliation environment. 

You may read more about the grant by clicking on the image below: 

In Christ and For His Mission,

Rev. Bev Coppley
District Superintendent