wfn.org | Bishops award 31 Children and Poverty grants

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Feb. 27, 2002     News media contact: Joretta Purdue7(202)
546-87227Washington     10-71B{076}
 
By United Methodist News Service

A United Methodist bishops' task force has awarded grants totaling $150,472
for ministry programs designed to aid children living in poverty.

The task force made the 31 one-time awards to assist local churches
throughout the denomination's five U.S. jurisdictions in addressing the
needs of children who are poor. Later in the year, another $50,000 will be
given in similar awards for ministries outside the country. 

The grants, of $5,000 or less, were awarded after the task force members
reviewed all 60 applications received. The denomination's Council of Bishops
is raising funds for the program through its Bishops' Initiative on Children
and Poverty, Advance Special No. 982200-8.

Several of the latest grants will support beginning or expanding
after-school or Saturday programs for children. The bishops also are funding
outreach programs targeting homeless families, immigrant families and
families in other difficult situations. Some programs focus on the children
themselves, others on the adults in their lives, and some plan a combination
of approaches. 

The churches receiving grants include large urban congregations and small
rural ones.

Seven active and six retired bishops, plus Bishop Donald A. Ott, the
council's initiative coordinator, serve on the task force, which meets four
times a year. Three of the bishops on the task force are from the church's
central conferences, regional units outside the United States.

The task force has had help from staff liaisons with several churchwide
agencies as well as six unpaid consultants who brought specialized knowledge
to the group.

"The initiative task force is grateful for the partnerships with
congregations the grants represent," Ott reported. "Advocacy and direct
service to children and the poor will result from these funds in 31
locations."

The initiative's goals are proclaiming the gospel in word and deed,
reshaping the denomination in the light of Jesus' call to care for "the
least of these" and providing resources to achieve these daring goals, Ott
said. "The grants are a small and positive step in these directions."

As congregations considered applying for grants, they engaged in
conversations about the needs of children and the poor in their
neighborhoods and communities, the bishop said. "Seeing and understanding
the need is the first step toward creating community with children and the
poor."

Following is a list of all the grants awarded so far by the initiative task
force, which finalized the awards in late January. Each grant is for $5,000
unless a different amount is listed. They are listed by annual (regional)
conference:

BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON

Calvary United Methodist Church in Martinsburg, W.Va., for a summer program
of professional counseling for 20 low-income children;

Living Springs Christian Fellowship United Methodist Church in Bowie, Md.,
for outreach to homeless women and children; and

New Zion Center of Hope United Methodist Church in Ellicott City, Md., for
assisting homeless women and children.

CALIFORNIA-NEVADA

$4,837 to Trinity United Methodist Church in Anderson, Calif., for an
after-school       program.
       
EAST OHIO

            Central United Methodist Church in Mansfield for a summer youth
program; and

New Alexandria and George's Run United Methodist churches, in New Alexandria
and Mingo Junction respectively, for an after-school program.

HOLSTON

Broad Street United Methodist Church in Kingsport, Tenn., for an
English-as-a-second-language program to serve immigrant parents in the
church's existing after-school program;

Jellico (Tenn.) United Methodist Church to provide school supplies for needy
children in kindergarten through sixth grade;

Mosheim Central, a small-membership church between Johnson City, Tenn., and
Greenville, Tenn., for community outreach through food, clothing and
financial help; and

St. Luke's United Methodist Church 	in Chattanooga, Tenn., for an
after-school arts program.

MISSISSIPPI

Vincent United Methodist Church in Grenada for an "I Believe I Can Fly"
after-school program combining reading and arts for children ages 7-12 in
partnership with two community organizations;

$4,000 to New Hope United Methodist Church in Horn Lake for a two-week
summer camp to bring together children and adults from different backgrounds
in partnership with other churches and a community organization;

Wesley United Methodist Church in Greenwood for an after-school and Saturday
program for children incorporating home visits, tutoring, mentoring and
field trips; and

$4,750 to James Chapel United Methodist Church in Lumberton to start an
after-school program using a cooperative learning approach with an academic
and spiritual focus.

NEW YORK
	
$2025 to East Pearl Street United Methodist Church in New Haven, Conn., for
a neighborhood ministry for unchurched teens; and

First United Methodist Church of Stamford, Conn., for expanding a
partnership with a Haitian community center in the areas of mentoring and
parent involvement.

NORTH CENTRAL NEW YORK

Riverside United Methodist Church in Elmira for an after-school program for
urban children; and

Trinity United Methodist Church in Utica for an after-school program.

NORTH TEXAS

Elmwood (Texas) United Methodist Church for a church and community sponsored
after-school program.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago for the development of a Latino
Parent Teachers Association in the area;

Centennial United Methodist Church of Rockford for a multicultural
after-school program; and

Resurrection United Methodist Church, Chicago, for teaching nonviolence and
conflict resolution within a community-based program.

RIO GRANDE

Principe de Paz United Methodist Church in San Antonio for a music and
puppet ministry.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Friendship United Methodist Church of Kingstree for a multiservice program.

SOUTHWEST TEXAS

First United Methodist Church of Mason for a summer camp for children; and

Pharr (Texas) United Methodist Church for an outreach expansion
organizer/administrator's salary.

WEST OHIO

New Life United Methodist Church in Columbus for a staff position for
ministry to children with poverty;

$4,860 to McKinley United Methodist Church in Dayton for a community
computer-learning center;

Gloucester-Jacksonville Charge, north of Athens, for an after-school
program;

Jackson Center United Methodist Church, north of Dayton, for an eight-week
summer program for children ages 5-12; and

Maynard Avenue United Methodist Church in Columbus for "Godly Play," a
children's discipleship program based on Montessori concepts, and for
one-on-one conversations with the adults in those children's lives for a
whole family ministry program.
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