Committee on Ethnic Local Church Concerns

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

 The mission of the Ethnic Local Church Concerns  Committee (ELCC) is to provide resources to empower and facilitate ethnic local churches within the Texas Annual Conference to reach out locally and globally to make disciples of Jesus Christ through leadership development, evangelistic witness and community outreach.

Our Goals…. 

· To be a funding resource for ethnic minority churches whose vision encompasses ministries that meet the needs of their congregations and communities.

· To partner with other ministries to help strengthen leadership development at the local and Conference levels, and to strengthen the United Methodist Church’s global ministry.

· To offer support for the local churches that are in transition to ethnic congregations.

· To fund programs for local churches to reach out to ethnic minorities in their communities.

OFFICERS

Chair                 Rev. Rick Nance

Vice Chair        

Secretary         

Grants             

Lay Men, Class 2008

Herbert Green   

Lawrence Smith

Lay Women, Class of 2008

Sandra Jackson

Vivian Oliver

Clergy, Class of 2008

Francis Guidry

Patricia Lewis

Kenneth Levingston

Linh Nguyen

Lay Men, Class of 2012

Steven Mueller  

Jon Simmons

David Tisdel

Joe Watt

Lay Women, Class of 2012

Brenda Berry

Laura Medlock

Laura Millikan

Pam Woody

Clergy, Class of 2012

Ken Archer

Eddie Ferguson

Isaiah Lee

Cabinet Representatives

Karen Dorris

Jim Foster                                

Staff Consultant

Kathy Brun 

ELCC—PRIORITY OF NEEDS  

I.          Leadership Development

Programs and activities which have as their goal the involvement, training and implementing of lay training programs geared to providing concrete ways to prepare local church lay persons for effective and vital witness in their church and community.

Examples of programs might include the following:

· (1) Local Church training events

· (2) Developing a Lay Academy

· (3) Sponsorship of Ministry Seminars

· (4) Advanced Lay Speaker’s School,

· (5) Continuing Education programs for clergy. 

II.          Evangelistic Witness

Programs and activities geared at providing means by which the gospel of Jesus Christ is shared with the “un-churched.”

Examples of programs or activities might include the following:

· (1) Retreats,

· (2) Enhancing a Church Revival

· (3) Networking Program,

· (4) Holding a Reach Out To Love Campaign where un-churched are shepherded by members

· (5) Establishment of “Neighborhood” study groups meeting in homes and

· (6) Radio or Television ministry geared to sharing the ministry of Christ to the world. 

III.         Community Outreach

Programs which reach beyond the four walls of the local church, making the body of Christ functional in meeting the physical and spiritual needs of hurting persons. 

Examples of such programs might include the following:

· (1) Drug Counseling, Teen Pregnancies and Aids Programs,

· (2) Job Counseling and Placement service,

· (3) Sponsorship of Food Pantries, Resale Shops, Toy Drives, etc.,

· (4) Sponsorship of Youth and Adult sports leagues with a Christian emphasis and

· (5) Collaboration projects with other community agencies in addressing needs.

       FUNDING GUIDELINES  AND CRITERIA

1.    Proposals for funding must arise out of Ethnic Local Churches defined by:

· 51% ethnic make-up

· Churches in ethnic transition

· Local Churches reaching out to ethnic minorities

2. Proposals must be typewritten and follow the guidelines.

3. Grants shall be awarded for 1 year only and shall not exceed $2,500.  Churches must match dollar for dollar the amount requested.

4. Proposals must provide assurance of project completion or becoming self sustaining beyond the first year.

5.   All funding requests must have approval of the pastor, administrative board or council.

6. Submitted proposals must have a letter from the District Superintendent endorsing the project, outlining the  need(s) as it relates to the immediate community being served as well as the District.

7. Proposals must be submitted by the proposal review deadline.  (See Schedule Below)

ELCC holds two meetings per year where all grant proposals are approved.  Each proposal needs to be submitted prior to the meeting by the proposal deadline.

You will be contacted if there are questions or missing information that the committee will need to approve your request.  All applicants will be notified after the committee meeting of the status of their request.

Download Application

Year: 2007

Season: Spring Review

Proposal Deadline: April 6, 2007

ELCC Committee Meeting Date: May 11, 2007

Year: 2007

Season: Fall Review

Proposal Deadline: September 14, 2007

ELCC Committee Meeting Date: October 12, 2007

If you have any questions please contact:

Rev. Rick Nance, ELCC Committee Chair