Description and Purpose: This grant is available to Indiana United Methodist Churches that are starting a new congregation. This new congregation (at least fifty constituents) can be an extension of the sponsoring church (e.g. as an additional campus) or as a standalone church. There are Fresh Expressions grants for smaller new faith community efforts.

The grant will provide up to $25,000 per year for up to three consecutive years; therefore, the maximum amount is $75,000. The grant funds may be used for any costs related to starting the new congregation. This includes, salary support, supplies, equipment, facility purchase and renovation, and ministry expenses.

Terms of the grant:

1. The grant is for starting a new congregation, not funding one that has already been started.
2. A church can receive only one of these grants at any given time.
3. The project must be approved in advance of the grant application by the church’s council.
4. Before applying, the church must have completed new-church-planting training. Contact CD@inumc.org for approved training options.
5. The project must have the approval of the church’s district Conference Superintendent (CS).
6. If the project will be in close proximity to existing United Methodist congregations, the church must work with the CS in sharing the concept with those churches before completing this application process. Collaboration is encouraged!
7. A church must notify the CD Committee if the purpose of the project, as described in this application, changes; the grant may be suspended and what was paid out may need to be returned.
8. A church is expected to pay its full tithe to the conference and district during the duration of the grant or have an alternative payment plan approved by the CS and the CD Committee.
9. A church with a delinquent CD loan is not eligible for this grant.
10. A church must remain a part of the Indiana Annual Conference during the entire payout period. If it should leave during the payout of the grant, the grant will be suspended and what was paid out must be returned.
11. A church receiving a grant agrees to submit electronically a monthly progress report during the payout of the grant.
12. The project’s leader is expected to have already helped start an outreach ministry (new worship service, small groups, Fresh Expressions, etc.) in the past.
13. The project leader, or someone on the project leadership team, should have fundraising experience.
14. The project’s leader is expected to be credentialed or in the credentialing process of the UMC or be under the supervision of appointed clergy.
15. The project’s leader agrees to hire a coach, approved by Church Development, during the payout of the grant.
16. Continued payout of the grant is contingent upon the project meeting its milestones, which are set by the applicant church. (See appendix below.)

Grant Approval: The Church Development Committee considers these grants at its quarterly meetings. Applications received at least two weeks prior to the meeting will be considered. The committee may take the following action:

• approve the full amount requested (perhaps with conditions)
• approve part of the amount request (perhaps with conditions)
• not approve the request
• table the request

Applicants will be notified as to the committee’s decision soon after the meeting. If a grant is approved, the church’s council chair, pastor, project leader, CS, and Church Development representative will sign a letter of agreement before the grant payout begins.

Milestones—Progress Metrics: You will need to establish milestones to help determine your effort’s progress.

For example, you might set the following:

1. Prayer team is in place and receiving regular requests and project updates
2. The vision is articulated in writing the best I can at this time and I’m sharing it regularly with my core group
3. I have established the discipling process and am implementing it with those in my launch team
4. I will have identified ___ (number) persons of peace by________ (date)
5. I will make at least 25 contacts a week with people outside my launch team
6. I have developed a system of generating contacts from my sponsoring church/es
7. I will conduct ___ (number) of community interviews by _________ (date)
8. I will prayer walk parts of my target area ____ (number) of times a month
9. I will take my core group on a driving windshield tour to observe my target area
10. I will create a community profile using what I learned from the above as well as MissionInsite
11. I will interview my persons of peace
12. I will conduct ___ (number) of listening sessions using focus groups each month
13. I will expand the number in my core group, committed group, and participant group by these amounts ____, ____, and ____ (numbers) by ______ (date)
14. I will create a ministry matrix and strive to have_______ (percentage) filled by _______ (date)
15. For an online faith community, achieve ___ (number) of followers, or ___ (number) of shares, or ___ (number) of online discipling groups, or ___ (number) participants

Note: Some of the above examples are not measurable in the way they are stated. So you will want to add specific times and dates. It is also very helpful to lay these out on a timeline for the next 12 months. Some of the above may show up every month with different target numbers. Others may only show up once or occasionally.

Please include below the expected dollar amounts of funding the project will receive from the following sources (Indicate “$0” if you don't anticipate receiving funding from those sources.)

Click “save” button to save your work. Click “submit” button when you’re ready to submit your completed application. By submitting this form, the applicant agrees to the above terms and verifies that the application contains accurate information.