Ethnic grants support nine ministries in Africa, U.S.
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A UMNS photo courtesy of Mozambique Annual Conference Young adults give reports at the 2005 Youth Leadership Seminar in Mozambique.
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Young adults give reports during the 2005 Youth Leadership Seminar in Mozambique. The
Mozambique United Methodist Youth Leadership Training and Development
seminar has received one of nine Ethnic Local Church Fund grants
totaling $138,000. The grants are given by the United Methodist Board of
Church and Society. The training seminar for 35 youth leaders will
focus on community response to the denomination's Social Principles. A
UMNS photo courtesy of Mozambique Annual Conference. Photo #06557.
Accompanies UMNS story #302. 5/22/06
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May 22, 2006
By Kathy L. Gilbert*
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — Nine grants totaling $138,600 will help programs serving
ethnic minorities across the globe reach their ministry goals.
The United Methodist Board of Church and Society approved funding for programs
ranging from a leadership training seminar for 35 youth leaders in Mozambique
to a program in Shreveport, La., that provides medical supplies and care to
the poor and uninsured.
The Ethnic Local Church Fund was created to help
the denomination’s
program boards support local church and annual conference ministries in each
board’s area of concern.
Grants for 2006:
- 2006 Ethnic Young Adult Summer Internship ($55,000). Eleven interns will live together in Washington June 4-Aug. 1
and work in
organizations addressing
social justice concerns. The internship has been sponsored by the United Methodist
Board of Church and Society for the last 20 years.
- The Pool of Siloam Medical Ministry
in the Louisiana Annual (regional) Conference ($25,000). The grant will support
expanding
an existing program
that provides medical supplies and medical care to the poor and uninsured
in the Shreveport District, in response to a fourfold increase in the homeless
evacuee population.
- The Quechan Elders Treasure, Fort
Yuma United Methodist Church, Desert-Southwest Annual (regional) Conference ($11,000).
This is
a local indigenous Quechan-language
church project to develop cultural curricula for children to strengthen traditions
and identity. It is a method for intervening in drug and alcohol abuse and
creating a safe environment.
- Every Member in Ministry for the 21st
Century, Southern Jurisdiction Agency for Native American Ministries ($10,000).
This
is a continuing leadership
development initiative of the Southeastern Jurisdiction to respond to crisis
in the Native American community. Focus will be on laity training and advocacy
on healthy decision making, addictions and outreach in a three-day summer conference.
- Black Church Summit, BMCR/Conference
Advocacy Team/Connectional Ministries, South Georgia Conference, Southeastern
Jurisdiction ($9,800).
The summit for
local churches in the South Georgia Annual (regional) Conference will build
on worship, grant-writing skills, United Methodist Board of Church and Society
and agency resources, health care advocacy and community education on issues
such as HIV-AIDS, nutrition and preventive health care. The summit is part
of a comprehensive health initiative and an effort to strengthen existing networks
and outreach to local African-American churches in South Georgia.
- Sisters, Methodist Mission Church
Extension Society, Methodist Action Program, Peninsula-Delaware Conference,
Northeastern
Jurisdiction ($9,000).
This is a 16-week leadership development and risk-reduction program of the
Methodist Action Program in the Wilmington, Del., area. The multiethnic project
for economically marginal young women focuses on improvement of life skills,
self-esteem, socialization and mentoring, followed up by local church relationships.
- United Methodist Church Women’s
Society, Mozambique South and North Conferences, Africa Central Conference ($7,000).
A four-day leadership
development and training project is held once during the quadrennium and focuses
on the Social Principles. It will provide women from across Mozambique with
foundational knowledge and advocacy skills to interpret the Social Principles
in their own contexts.
- Youth Leadership Training and
Development, Mozambique United Methodist Youth, Mozambique South
and North Conferences,
Africa Central
Conference ($6,800).
A leadership training seminar for 35 youth leaders from across Mozambique focuses
on community response to the Social Principles, facilitated by United Methodist
Board of Church and Society staff and youth leadership. Issues of leadership
in community and youth responses will be covered.
- St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Creative Arts Program for Youth, California-Nevada Annual (regional) Conference,
Western
Jurisdiction,
$5,000. An arts-based development program for San Jose youth in an ethnically
pluralistic and low-income area, this initiative builds on the conference vision
for ethnic ministries and focuses on drama, music, dance and visual arts classes.
*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville,
Tenn.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.
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