By Stan Dueck
COVID-19 has created programming and financial stress on Church of the Brethren camps and congregations. Due to the coronavirus, the Mission and Ministry Board of the denomination made the following changes to the Brethren Faith in Action Fund guidelines. The amendments are in place through Dec. 31, 2020.
First, Church of the Brethren camps are now eligible for a one-time grant up to $5,000. The matching requirement of 50 percent of the amount awarded remains in place. A Church of the Brethren camp may apply for a waiver of some or all the matching fund requirement.
Second, Church of the Brethren congregations, fellowships, and projects applying for Brethren Faith in Action grants also may apply for a waiver of some or all of the matching fund requirements through December 2020. Churches are eligible for funds up to $5,000.
In this time, when needs in our communities are so great, all applicants are asked to carefully consider the budget of their outreach projects and ask for only the money that is truly needed. The Brethren Faith in Action funds are limited; good budgeting will allow more applications to be granted to help more people.
Another reminder to congregations is that Emergency Disaster Fund grants also are available for many outreach projects in this time of emergency.
The Brethren Faith in Action guidelines and application form are in English, Kreyol, and Spanish, and are available at www.brethren.org/faith-in-action .
— Stan Dueck is co-coordinator of Discipleship Ministries for the Church of the Brethren.