In the midst of significant social unrest in the United States, Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) has launched a Justice Fund to provide a way for individuals and congregations to support MC USA churches that are actively involved in dismantling racism, addressing police brutality, reimagining policing in our society or combating poverty.
The Justice Fund will use donations to provide grants for MC USA congregations that are engaging in their communities to dismantle racism and to build peace. Congregations also may use these funds for seed money to begin working in these areas.
Read the latest news here.
Mennonite Church USA is giving limited grants to congregations that are:
- Actively engaged in their community and partnering with another church or organization working on issues addressing racial justice, poverty, police brutality/reimagining policing, and immigration.
- Seeking start-up money to begin working on racial justice, poverty, or immigration in their local community and committed to partnering with another church or organization.
- Priority will be given to congregations working with organizations led by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) in their community, and congregations with less than 150 members. Previous recipients are eligible to apply for a new grant, but priority will be given to first-time applicants. MC USA accepts applications on a rolling basis. The online application is available here.
Recipients of Mennonite Church USA’s Justice Fund grants
From 2020 to present, in alphabetical order
Atlanta (Georgia) Mennonite Church – Partnering with Casa Alterna in immigration work.
Anabaptist Fellowship of Alamosa – Partnering with the Alamosa Bicycle Coalition to provide a transportation option for people who do not have viable transportation.
Beth-El Mennonite Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado – Partnering with Accompaniment and Sanctuary Coalition to create mobile clothing closets.
Boulder (Colorado) Mennonite Church and Mountain States Conference – Leading a conference on dismantling white supremacy and systemic racism with higher education partners.
C3 – Calvary Community Church, Hampton, Virginia – Working on racial justice with community organizations.
Central Plains Conference, Freeman, South Dakota – Supporting the efforts of Agape Peace Center, a conference-affiliated ministry, which works in race relations and restorative justice, in partnership with other church communities and organizations.
Chapel Hill (North Carolina) Mennonite Fellowship – Engaging in anti-racism work in its community, in partnership with other community organizations.
Crystal Springs Mennonite Church, Harper, Kansas – Helping students apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (referred to as DACA) in their local high school.
Eugene (Oregon) Mennonite Church – Providing laundry services for unsheltered people in its community.
Frazer (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Church – Partnering in the Ploughshares Community Garden program.
Lee Heights Community Church, Cleveland, Ohio – Providing internet accessibility for community members and working to address racial justice, police brutality and poverty.
Mennonite Mission Network – Iglesia Cristiana Menonita de Colombia (IMCOL-Colombian Mennonite Church) – Working toward peaceful resolution in Colombia.
North Baltimore (Maryland) Mennonite Church – Providing housing and services to asylum seekers, in partnership with other community organizations.
Nueva Vida Norristown, Pennsylvania – Training and teaching youth to resolve issues peacefully, individually and collectively, in partnership with other community ministries.
Open Door Mennonite Church, Jackson, Mississippi – Starting the Peace and Justice Center of the Deep South to be a neighborhood hub for building community, combatting injustice, and connecting people with each other and resources
Pasadena (California) Mennonite Church – Partnering with Shepherd Heart to provide pastoral care to Mennonite Church USA faith leaders and peace workers, with special attention to leaders who are women and BIPOC.
Peace Mennonite Fellowship, Claremont, California – Partnering with ReconciliAsian to provide an immigration and trauma workshop.
Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Praise Center – Maintaining safe drop-off sites for virtual learning for families in need, in partnership with Mosaic Conference and two other Mennonite churches.
Rochester (New York) Mennonite Church – Engaging in anti-racism work in the church and community.
San Antonio (Texas) Mennonite Church – Supporting the work of its Interfaith Welcome Coalition, which provides trauma healing programs and other services to immigrants and their families.