Eleven ethnic church projects receive grants

Oct. 6, 2004

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-A United Methodist agency has awarded 11 grants totaling $157,765 to projects and organizations serving racial-ethnic groups.

Meeting Sept. 28-Oct. 2, governing members of the Board of Discipleship approved funding these United Methodist projects:

(Ethnic group served: African American)

The Southeastern Jurisdiction of Black Methodists for Church Renewal will host its annual Harambee youth conference June 22-26 on the campus of Clark Atlanta University to help youth develop spiritual, leadership and interpersonal skills.

(Ethnic group served: Korean American)

Plans are under way for developing and publishing a Korean Lay Leadership Manual. The project will include three different manuals for each level of lay leadership-lay elder, lay exhorter and lay deacon-to make a standardized manual for all Korean-American United Methodist churches, with anticipated availability in January 2006.

(Ethnic group served: multiethnic)

The institute, held at St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church in Dallas, will bring together speakers from across the church to help people improve their leadership skills.

(Ethnic group served: Hispanic)

The clergy leadership of three Rio Grande Conference churches-Buen Samaritano, Agape Memorial, Emmanuel-and three North Texas Conference churches-Elmwood Hispanic, Urban Park Hispanic, Bradon St. Ministry-have teamed to conduct a series of training events through June. They are requesting consultants from the National Plan on Hispanic Ministries for module training, and support from the Office of Hispanic Ministries at the United Methodist Board of Discipleship and from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

(Ethnic group served: multicultural)

Reconciliation United Methodist Church in Durham, N.C., is launching this program to reach more people in its community.

(Ethnic group served: Korean)

The leaders of the National Association of Korean American United Methodist Churches are organizing a May 16-19 seminar in Dallas consisting of lectures and small-group discussions focusing on ministry and Christian education.

(Ethnic group served: Korean American)

To help the Korean-American clergy of the United Methodist Church develop leadership, communication and conflict management skills, two national training events will be offered in 2005: a clergy leadership training in Flushing, N.Y., March 1-3, and a lay leadership training May 27-31 in Fort Lee, N.J.

(Ethnic group served: Korean American)

The SEJ Georgia Korean United Methodist churches held the first of four leadership conferences Sept. 17-19 at Hinesville (Ga.) Korean United Methodist Church. The goal was to give pastors and lay people a better understanding of the denomination, mission, service and evangelization, and sharpened leadership skills. Other programs will follow.

(Ethnic group served: Korean)

Since many Korean United Methodist churches in the New York metropolitan area don’t have large enough youth groups to hold retreats, a large youth retreat will be held for them June 26-29 at the Rosendale Retreat Center in upstate New York.

(Ethnic group served: Korean American)

A three-day Korean-American pastors’ retreat will be held Dec. 27-29 in Lancaster, Pa., to sharpen leadership skills, renew spirituality and strengthen fellowship ties. The retreat will include a special worship and fellowship with Appenzella (Pa.) United Methodist Church and its congregation honoring Henry Appenzella and his family, the first missionaries to Korea.

(Ethnic group served: Korean American)

A liturgy is being developed for children growing up in an environment with mixed American and Korean cultures. The liturgy will include communion, infant baptism, the order of Sunday worship and public prayers for children’s worship.

(Ethnic group served: multiethnic)

The grant will support the travel and registration cost of five ethnic minority people to attend the Focus ’05 conference. The event, for people in ministry with children, will be held July 26-29 in Nashville, Tenn.

New programs or pilot projects receive priority for grants. All grants are awarded on a one-year basis, and project-funding proposals are due July 1 and Nov. 1. More information is available by contacting Sungnam Choi, director of Korean, Asian American and Pacific Islander Ministries, at (615) 340-7050 or toll-free (877) 899-2780, Ext. 7050, or by e-mail at schoi@gbod.org.

News media contact: Linda Green, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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