Grants available to help African American churches meet media/technology needs

Ministries partner to make grants possible

by Gail Strange | Presbyterian News Service

The Rev. Michael Moore

LOUISVILLE — The Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries (RE&WIM) and the Theology Formation & Evangelism (TFE) Ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency are collaboratively working to offer “African American PC(USA) Ministry Boost” grants.

The grants are to support African American congregations and African American new worshiping communities with their current media/technology needs as well as groups that need a boost in supporting their ongoing and active ministry and community programming.

“We are excited about this initiative,” said the Rev. Michael Moore, associate for African American Intercultural Congregational Support Ministries. “It is the ingenuity and the collaborative effort of these two ministries that allow this type of congregational support to occur. We are particularly thankful to our colleagues in the TFE ministry and the broader Presbyterian Mission Agency family for making this possible.”

The funds are designated exclusively for African American Presbyterian churches and are not designated for administrative, budget or capital needs. However, the grant initiative will support at least 17% of congregations that will apply.

“In the Office of Theology, Formation & Evangelism, we place our emphasis on Congregational Vitality, which is one of the foci of the Matthew 25 vision,” said the Rev. Carlton Johnson, coordinator of Vital Congregations. “Through multiple conversations, TFE has become more aware of the disproportionate impact of the recent and multiple pandemics on African American congregations. We are delighted to have recently partnered with the RE&WIM to provide small grants to a targeted group of these congregations.

“It is our hope that these small gifts will provide a necessary boost of resources to these churches and reassure them of our offices’ strivings to ensure their vitality now and in the days to come.”

“Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries has long enjoyed working alongside our colleagues in the TFE to resource communities of color in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),” said the Rev. Denise Anderson, acting director for RE&WIM. “This grant is yet another opportunity to provide key resources to one of our constituencies, and we appreciate TFE’s attentiveness to the needs of African American congregations in the denomination. We hope this will inspire and invite other opportunities to examine and address disparities in the church.”

The African American Intercultural Congregational Support Office assists the PC(USA) in addressing the needs of African American congregations. It works in partnership with mid councils to nurture conversations and facilitate ministries that will transform African American congregations into more vibrant and healthier congregations.

The office emphasizes principles that will encourage, nurture, support, motivate, equip and empower leaders and disciples of Jesus Christ to become more intentional about engaging in spiritual practice that nurtures a transformational spirituality and leads toward transforming communities and the world, the Beloved Community or the Realm of God on Earth.

For more information on applying for the grants, contact Moore at michael.moore@pcusa.org.