Young Clergy Vocational Discernment Grant Fund and Other Grant Opportunities

Participants gather in prayer at a local vocational discernment event supported by the YYoung Clergy Vocational Discernment Grant Fund. Applications are open for a new grant cycle that will fund programs across the denomination designed to help future leaders discern and respond to God’s call to ministry.

By Wendy R. Cromwell

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) continues its commitment to cultivate future church leaders through the Young Clergy Initiative (YCI) Vocational Discernment Grant Fund, a program designed to help individuals listen, discern, and respond to God’s call to vocational ministry. Established by General Conference in 2012, the Young Clergy Initiative was created to increase the number of young clergy, under age 35, serving across United Methodist jurisdictions in the United States.

Higher Education and Ministry will award grants annually to groups, organizations, annual conferences, and institutions developing vocational discernment programs and resources. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 will support innovative efforts that encourage people as they consider a call to vocational ministry and provide meaningful opportunities for discernment and leadership development.

“As we look to the future of The United Methodist Church, these funds help create opportunities for people to hear and respond to God’s call,” said Roland Fernandes, general secretary for the general boards of Higher Education and Ministry and Global Ministries. “By investing in vocational discernment, we are supporting the formation of clergy and helping ensure that future generations of church leaders are equipped to serve with faith, purpose, and passion.”

The grants may fund a variety of initiatives, including discernment retreats, campus ministry and chaplaincy programs, local discernment cohorts, vocational discernment curriculum development, and jurisdictional expressions of EXPLORATION, a GBHEM-sponsored vocational discernment event. Applications for the Young Clergy Initiative Vocational Discernment Grant Fund opened September 1.

Additional grant opportunities available through the General Boards of Higher Education and Ministry and Global Ministries to support colleges, churches, and annual conferences include:

• Ministry Support Fund: A funding opportunity for annual conferences, Boards of Ordained Ministry, cabinets, episcopal offices, and conference staff to support the development and care of clergy, with grants ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 and renewed up to a maximum of four years. Applications open October 1. Learn more.
  
• Chaplain & Campus Minister Network: Supports initiatives to strengthen or cultivate clergywomen networks throughout the United Methodist connection with an emphasis on regional associations, events, and in-person gatherings. Rolling application cycle. Learn more.
• Mustard Seed Migration Grants: UMCOR grants of $2,000 available to local United Methodist churches engaging in ministries that serve migrants and refugees in their communities. The 2026 application is open, and the 2027 application cycle opens in January. Learn more and apply.
• Multiethnic Ministries Grants: Grants of up to $20,000 that support racial and ethnic leadership development and church growth initiatives within annual conferences. Seven grants are awarded annually. The 2027 application cycle opens January 1. Learn more.
• Racial-Ethnic Local Church Grants: The General Board of Global Ministries provides grants to foster the development and strengthen the witness and ministry of racial/ethnic local churches in the United States. Funds are provided to assist local racial/ethnic congregations and annual conferences with Congregational Growth/Development projects. The application cycle opens January 1, 2027. Learn more.
• Environmental Sustainability Grants
  • EarthKeepers implementation grants of up to $10,000 after completing training. Applications are open. Learn more.
  • Solar and Battery Pilot Program: grants of up to $100,000 for 10 churches. Both programs provide training and support to help churches advance environmental stewardship efforts. Applications opened August 18. Learn more.