ministries / New Faith Communities

New Beginnings Grants

The New Beginnings Fund of United Methodists of Upper New York supports grants of $2,500 or more to intentionally reach new people in contextual ways to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The New Beginnings Fund – made up of the net proceeds from the sale of the church buildings of discontinued congregations – enables closed churches to provide a legacy to reach new people and for new churches take root.

The goal of New Faith Communities (NFC) in Upper New York is to intentionally reach new people in contextual ways to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

To apply, ministries must be:

1. A New Ministry: The NFC should represent a newly established ministry initiative
2. Explicitly built to reach new people outside of the existing church
3. Relational
4. Helping new people explore, embrace, and grow in their faith in the Wesleyan way

New Faith Communities may include:

• New Church Starts: A brand new church that has the potential to charter and live in the connectional system with the potential for self-sustainability in terms of growth and finances. Must include worship and service/community care. Multi-site campuses fall into this category. New Church Starts must attend the UNY Launchpad training to be eligible for funding. Approval from the Bishop and Cabinet is required.

• New Faith Communities/Fresh Expressions: Smaller, less traditional ministries. Unlikely to charter or continue to grow beyond a certain point. It may be seen as a stepping stone towards faith. Includes coffeehouses, house churches, intentional communities, digital ministries, ministry in the marketplace, etc. Preference is given to applicants who have attended Launchpad.

• Church ReStarts: Church Restarts may be considered NFC’s upon completion of
  • Ministry audit via your District within the past two years
  • NFC Launchpad or NFC coaching in the UNYAC
  • Purposeful Ministry Pause of at least four weeks – up to 6 months
  • Intentional Revisioning: strategic plan to begin new ministries that will reach new people
  • Approval from the Bishop and Cabinet
  • Other supporting qualities include: Change of Name, New Location
  • Church Restarts are eligible for up to matching grants only, based on their pledged annual giving.

Grant applications exceeding $5,000*: are reviewed bi-annually.

Grant applications for

January 15       close November 1

July 15             close May 1

Click here for the Year 1 Grant Application.

Click here for the Year 2-4 Grant Application.