We are committed to engaging churches in their role as catalysts for rural communities. We support clergy and congregations — ensuring they have the tools to walk faithfully together — as they strengthen their communities. We invest in rural United Methodist churches to make greater contributions that create meaningful and measurable change.
Rural Church Grantmaking by Strategy
Cultivate and Support Pastoral Leaders
$8,263,898We support programs that recruit and retain candidates for ministry; nurture clergy growth and competencies including cultural sensitivity; and support training for district superintendents to develop missional strategies that strengthen connections between churches and their communities. We believe that doing so benefits rural communities across the state.
Build Congregational Capacity
$6,280,903In healthy churches, clergy and laity maintain strong awareness of their community and ties to it. We support programs that engage rural congregations with their neighbors to identify and implement solutions that could have a lasting, positive impact on their rural region.
Identify and Test Selected Programs
$3,235,056We identify, develop, test and share programs that have demonstrated positive outcomes, with a special focus on children. Simultaneously, we provide funding for churches to implement these programs.
Reimagine Church Real Estate
$300,300We support conversations that help rural congregations make informed decisions about how to optimize their assets and use them as catalysts for community-focused ministry. Using real estate in ways that meet community needs and expand usefulness of facilities can increase connections between the church and community — boosting vitality for both.