Appalachian Ministry Network awards grants, hires consultantOct. 4, 2006
By Vicki Brown*
MANCHESTER, Ky. (UMNS) — The United Methodist
Appalachian Ministry Network looks toward its 35th anniversary in 2007 amid
financial struggles that have forced severe cuts.
At the Sept. 22-23 meeting in Manchester, the network approved a
recommendation to make the executive coordinator part time, OK’d $14,500 in
grants to fight hunger and poverty in the region, and hired a consultant to
complete a strategic analysis of the organization, its mission and its
funding.
The network was designated in 1972 by the General Conference to work with
local, district, conference and church leadership to coordinate United
Methodist ministries in Appalachia. Its vision is "a society free of
injustice and exploitation, where Appalachian people are valued for who they
are, where sustainable community is created and where each person has the
opportunity to realize their God created spiritual, social and economic
potential," according to its Web site.
"Appalachian church folk and some general church agency staff constantly
tell me how valuable this regional organization is, yet we find it
struggling for financial support to keep it moving forward," said Sharon
Leatherman, who has been executive coordinator of the network for 12 years.
Funding declines
Last July, Leatherman told the executive committee that she expected
additional giving from the denomination's annual (regional) conferences of
about $13,700, which would not be enough to keep a full-time coordinator.
The network approved the proposal that Leatherman go to half-time status
through the end of the year to save about $10,000. At the same time, a
consultant will begin studying the possibilities for the network’s future.
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A Web-only photo courtesy of Sharon Leatherman
The network is “struggling for financial support,” says director Sharon Leatherman.
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| "Appalachian
church folk and some general church agency staff constantly tell me how
valuable this regional organization is," says Sharon Leatherman,
Appalachian Ministry Network executive coordinator. At a Sept. 22-23
meeting in Manchester, Ky., members of the network met to discuss the
future of the organization, which is struggling financially. The group
approved a recommendation to make the executive coordinator part time,
OK'd $14,500 in grants to fight hunger and poverty in the region, and
hired a consultant to complete an analysis of the organization. A UMNS
Web-only photo courtesy of Sharon Leatherman. Photo #w06-131.
Accompanies UMNS story #591. 10/4/06 |
Since 2000, the organization has lost program funds that were provided
through the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. The General Advance
Special Appalachian Regional Ministries, which provided funds for training
and resourcing ministries, also declined from $14,034 to $4,181 in 2006.
Bruce Spangler, vice chairman of the network, said the organization’s work
over the years has been an outstanding example of connectionalism in action.
"Over the next six months, we will engage a consultant to help us with
reviewing and revising the network in order to assure the continuation and
effectiveness of that project," he said.
He praised the work Leatherman has done and thanked her for her willingness
to continue 21 hours a week at half-time salary. The consultant will be paid
by a $7,500 grant from the Town and Country Ministry Office of the United
Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
The chairman of the network, Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the denomination’s
Pittsburgh Area, could not attend the meeting, but spoke to the group by
telephone and recommended accepting a consulting proposal from Drs. Monica
and Mark Law of Larksville, Pa.
The consultants will evaluate the network, examine the potential for funding
sources and decide whether funding streams can realistically be anticipated,
undertake a strategic analysis of the future viability of the network, and
determine the future existence of the organization.
This will be done through interviews and forums with key decision makers,
stakeholders and personnel. The first piece of the analysis is expected to
be presented to the network during its March meeting.
The network approved a budget of $53,500 for 2007, down from the original
2006 budget of $61,345. However, the 2006 budget dropped by about $10,000
due to the coordinator’s reduced hours.
The 2007 budget includes $28,339.62 for the coordinator's salary and
benefits, down from $49,085. The budget did not drop by half because the new
budget contains $6,610.38 for the Appalachian Regional Assembly in September
2007. An assembly is held every two years. The budget also includes $8,000
in income from grants, which the organization might not be able to get.
"Obviously, if we don’t get grants, that money will not be spent,"
Leatherman said. The network was incorporated as a 501c3 tax-exempt
nonprofit this year so Leatherman could seek grants from sources outside the
church.
The group spent time developing ideas for the assembly, which is a gathering
of those who work with ministry and justice programs in the region. Plans
call for the assembly to be held Sept. 19-22, but a site has not been
selected.
Grants for ministries
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A UMNS photo by Vicki Brown
Members of the Appalachian Ministry Network meet to discuss the future of the organization.
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| At
a Sept. 22-23 meeting in Manchester, Ky., members of the Appalachian
Ministry Network meet to discuss the future of the organization, which
is struggling financially. The network was designated in 1972 by the
General Conference to work with local, district, conference and church
leadership to collaborate and coordinate United Methodist ministries in
Appalachia. The group approved a recommendation to make the executive
coordinator part time, OK'd $14,500 in grants to fight hunger and
poverty in the region, and hired a consultant to complete an analysis of
the organization. A UMNS photo by Vicki Brown. Photo #06-1155.
Accompanies UMNS story #591. 10/4/06 |
A second focus of the organization's work is to administer funds from the
Appalachian Hunger and Poverty General Advance Special. The grants are
designated to ministries within the region that address the root causes of
hunger and those that provide for basic human need.
Hunger and poverty grants were awarded to:
- Community Development Outreach Ministry,
Charleston, W.Va., $500, for a washer-dryer to establish a laundry
facility for clients.
- Community Enabler Developer, Anniston,
Ala., $2,500, for food for the community emergency program.
- Interparish Ministry, Cincinnati,
$1,500, for food.
- “Hope for Health,” Scotts Run Settlement
House, Osage, W.Va., $2,500, for prescription drug ministry.
- Of One Accord, Rogersville, Tenn.,
$2,500, for a refrigerator and kitchen equipment to expand the elderly
nutrition ministry.
- Partners for Life-Juvenile Division,
Connellsville Area Community Ministries, Connellsville, Pa., $1,500, for
general project support that builds systemic life changes for clients.
- R.O.C.K. (Reaching Out to Community
Kids), Altoona, Pa., $2,000, to support an after-school nutrition
program.
- Sleepy Creek Before and After School,
Berkley Spring, W.Va., $1,500, to assist with supplies and snacks.
Visit
www.gbgm-umc.org/appalachia to learn more about the network or contact
the network at (301) 791-7355 or at
umadc@aol.com.
Donations may be made to Appalachian Regional Ministries, General Advance
Special #982041 or to the Appalachian Hunger and Poverty General Advance
Special #982039, and placed in church offering plates or sent to UMCOR — the
United Methodist Committee on Relief — at P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087.
Donate online at secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/index.cfm.
*Brown, an associate editor and writer in the Office of Interpretation,
United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, serves as the board
liaison to the network. She is a voting member of the network’s executive
committee.
News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.
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