Excellence in Clergy Leadership Scholarship
Offered through the Office of Loans and Scholarships at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), this scholarship was created to help United Methodist clergy avoid excessive educational loan debt, minimize financial stress and build financial acumen. In 2017, more than $1.66 million was awarded to 206 scholarship recipients. The scholarship is designed for full-time Master of Divinity students attending one of the 13 United Methodist seminaries / schools of theology, and is based on merit, leadership capacity, and financial need. All seminary students are encouraged to apply. Scholarship applications will be open between January 3 and March 1 of each year.
Duke Endowment Rural Church Grants
Within Rural Church, The Duke Endowment focuses its work in three main areas: Congregational Outreach, Rural Church Development, and Clergy Leadership. The following are eligible for Rural Church Grants: UMC Churches that serve rural North Carolina communities; the NC and Western NC conferences and districts of the UMC; and Duke Divinity School.
Ethnic Local Church Grants
Offered by the UMC General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), these grants will strengthen ethnic local churches through education, public policy, advocacy, or leadership training and development as they engage in social justice ministries.
Racial Ethnic Local Church Concerns (RELCC) Grants
Offered by the UMC Discipleship Ministries, these grants provide funding to strengthen the ethnic local church through leadership training, small groups, worship, stewardship and spiritual formation. Priority is given to new programs/ministries that move churches to places where disciples are formed and grow.
Human Relations Day Grants
Offered by the UMC General Board of Church and Society (BGCS), these grants provide funding to promote ministries that respond to non-violent young offenders through education, advocacy,or leadership training and development. In the UMC, Human Relations Day Sunday is the Sunday immediately following the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.
Comprehensive Plan of Inclusiveness (CPI) Grants
The project must relate to the Comprehensive Plan of Inclusiveness (CPI) and must be developed by one or more United Methodist local church(es) with priority given to ethnic churches. The project must address one or more chronic social problems or concerns that impact United Methodist ethnic local churches or ethnic persons. Priority is given to new and pilot projects. Funding is offered by the NC Annual Conference.
CORR Action Fund Grants
The CORR Action Fund (CAF) grant program is established by the General Conference of The UMC for the empowerment of diversity, inclusion and racial justice work within and outside the Church. Rhems UMC in New Bern was one of seven United Methodist groups that received nearly $98,000 in grants in 2013.
Mission Seed Funds
Offered by the NC Annual Conference, Mission Seed Funds are designed to encourage and facilitate NC Conference United Methodist congregations in risk-taking ministry and radical hospitality. These funds are designed to be supplemental and specific to new outreach programs that offer hands-on ministry and witness beyond the church walls. Funds may be used to support ministry throughout or beyond the geographical boundaries of the NC Conference, providing these programs are outreach ministries through local churches. Program outcomes should be measurable and achievable, and ministry should demonstrate a plan for future sustainability.
Peace with Justice Grants
Offered by the General Board of Church and Society, this grant program is funded through the Peace with Justice Sunday special offering of the United Methodist Church. This Special Sunday “witnesses to God’s demands for a faithful, just, disarmed and secure world.”
Hispanic/Latinx Ministry Pilgrimage Grants
The NC Annual Conference offers funding to enable Pilgrimage participation by Hispanic/Latino youth.
Youth Service Fund (YSF) Grants
Ministries and programs that benefit young people and would not be considered typical local church youth ministry activities (such as mission trips) may be considered for a Youth Service Fund grant. Funding for program continuations will be considered. A DVD about YSF is available for local church use from the NC Conference Media Center.
Partners in Health and Wholeness Mini-Grants
Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW), an initiative of the North Carolina Council of Churches that aims to connect health as a faith issue, offers mini-grants to support the congregation’s health ministry.