The purpose of the Discipleship Ministries Racial Ethnic Local Church Grants (RELCC) is to provide funding to strengthen the ethnic local church through leadership training, small groups, worship, stewardship and spiritual formation as they engage in developing disciple making systems inside the church walls as well as in the local community.
Priority is given to new programs and ministries that move churches to places where disciples are formed, grow and make new disciples of Jesus Christ who will transform the world.
A maximum of one grant per U.S. jurisdiction will be awarded.
Projects must reflect the strategic priorities of Discipleship Ministries (see below):
Improving disciple-making systems in existing local churches.Increasing engagement with people outside the church who claim “no religious preference” and consider the church irrelevant. Strengthening churches that are pre-dominantly non-white; that is: churches that are predominantly African-American, Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Asian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander, or multi-ethnic. Additional criteria include:
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 ChristBe consistent with the doctrine and social principles of the United Methodist Book of DisciplineFocus on developing and strengthening the racial ethnic local church for witness and missionBe 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 worshipBe led primarily by racial ethnic church members
Please note:
Funds are not provided for personnel or equipment. The MAXIMUM grant is $10,000. Applications are due September 1, 2025.
Discipleship Ministries staff are also available to answer questions about the application process.
Additionally, Discipleship Ministries staff will host a webinar for potential applicants on June 18. The webinar will provide guidance for the application process, including tips and support related to program design and evaluation. Please email Naomi Annandale (below) to receive a link for the webinar.
Naomi Annandale Executive Director of Research and Strategic Evaluation nannandale@umcdiscipleship.org (877) 899-2780, ext. 1743 (toll-free)
David Kim Director, Korean, Asian American, & Pacific Islander Ministries dkim@umcdiscipleship.org (877) 899-2780, ext. 7050 (toll-free)
Racial Ethnic Local Church Concerns Grant
The purpose of the Discipleship Ministries Racial Ethnic Local Church Grants (RELCC) is to provide funding to strengthen the ethnic local church through leadership training, small groups, worship, stewardship and spiritual formation as they engage in developing disciple making systems inside the church walls as well as in the local community.
Priority is given to new programs and ministries that move churches to places where disciples are formed, grow and make new disciples of Jesus Christ who will transform the world.
A maximum of one grant per U.S. jurisdiction will be awarded.
Projects must reflect the strategic priorities of Discipleship Ministries (see below):
Improving disciple-making systems in existing local churches.Increasing engagement with people outside the church who claim “no religious preference” and consider the church irrelevant. Strengthening churches that are pre-dominantly non-white; that is: churches that are predominantly African-American, Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Asian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander, or multi-ethnic. Additional criteria include:
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 ChristBe consistent with the doctrine and social principles of the United Methodist Book of DisciplineFocus on developing and strengthening the racial ethnic local church for witness and missionBe 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 worshipBe led primarily by racial ethnic church members
Please note:
Funds are not provided for personnel or equipment. The MAXIMUM grant is $10,000. Applications are due September 1, 2025.
Discipleship Ministries staff are also available to answer questions about the application process.
Additionally, Discipleship Ministries staff will host a webinar for potential applicants on June 18. The webinar will provide guidance for the application process, including tips and support related to program design and evaluation. Please email Naomi Annandale (below) to receive a link for the webinar.
Naomi Annandale Executive Director of Research and Strategic Evaluation nannandale@umcdiscipleship.org (877) 899-2780, ext. 1743 (toll-free)
David Kim Director, Korean, Asian American, & Pacific Islander Ministries dkim@umcdiscipleship.org (877) 899-2780, ext. 7050 (toll-free)