wfn.org | Grants available for youth, young adult ministries

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Oct. 16, 2001 News media contact: Linda Green7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.
10-71B{478}

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- United Methodists involved in cutting-edge
ministries with youth and young adults may obtain grants of up to $15,000
from the denomination's four program agencies.

The grants are available under the auspices of the Shared Mission Focus on
Young People, a global initiative of the denomination. They are designed to
enable creative, life-transforming ministries with young people, said the
Rev. Drew Dyson, the executive director.

The grants are being offered through the United Methodist boards of Church
and Society, Global Ministries, Higher Education and Ministry, and
Discipleship. Working collaboratively with general boards and agencies,
annual and central conferences, and local churches, the initiative seeks to
"set flame" to a movement throughout the church that transforms how United
Methodists think and do ministry with and for young people, Dyson said.

The money would assist local churches, annual conferences in the United
States and central conferences abroad, cooperative parishes, ecumenical
shared ministries, campus ministries, youth serving agencies, and United
Methodist organizations working with churches in programs for youth and
young adults.  

Ministries may receive grants of up to $15,000 per year for up to three
years, Dyson said. Projects may be funded once or for the full three-year
cycle. In the past, the focus financially supported 27 pilot projects and 12
mini-grant projects throughout the United States and in the church's central
conferences around the world.  

The Shared Mission Focus on Young People began in 1996, as a result of
General Conference legislation challenging the church to "reorder its
priorities to better respond to the joys and pains of young people." During
the first four years, a coordinating team worked to increase awareness of
young people's needs.

The 2000 General Conference reaffirmed the program and continued its
mandate. The focus, which had been accountable to the churchwide General
Council on Ministries, was restructured and moved to the Board of
Discipleship in Nashville.

The board elected a team that includes 23 international members, ranging
from teen-agers to older adults, and includes resource people from each of
the church's boards and agencies. The team's 2001-2004 focus is to "develop
a comprehensive/coordinated approach dedicated to enhancing the church's
ministry with young people," Dyson said.

The team has established basic funding criteria, with additional guidelines
set by each of the participating churchwide agencies. Grants will be awarded
through the administrative processes of each board.

The deadline for applications for the first funding cycle is Jan. 15. For
more information, contact the office of the Shared Mission Focus on Young
People at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 1780, or by e-mail at smfyp@gbod.org.

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United Methodist News Service
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