Grants to Support Congregation-Based
Community Programs

by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE—The Presbyterian Church (USA) Hunger Program (PHP), in partnership with the denomination’s Urban Ministry Office, recently allocated $175,000 in grants to 22 congregation-based community organizations (CBCOs) in urban and rural areas across the country.

They are among the hundreds of Presbyterian U.S. congregations making a difference in their local communities through CBCOs.

CBCOs are broad-based coalitions of congregations, faith-based groups and grassroots organizations that address quality-of-life and family issues—working, for example, to see that people have affordable housing and access to quality health care. Other examples of CBCOs’ concerns are crime, safety, public health and public education.

The funds are from the Community Development portion of the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. Recipients were chosen during a March 25 meeting of the Presbyterian Hunger Program Advisory Committee.

A representative example of a community development organization is BUILD (Building a United Interfaith Lexington through Direct Action), in Lexington, KY, that has involved members of that city’s Second Presbyterian Church for two years. BUILD intends to become a self-sustaining organization, rooted in religious congregations and able to affect public policy. Through BUILD, members of Second church have been working with representatives of 12 to 15 other congregations on issues of public safety, education and service for seniors.

“It’s just another way of participating in the Democratic system,” said the Rev. David Renwick, the church's pastor. “We think we can help build a better community.”

Among the grant recipients are others in the Synod of Living Waters:

• All Congregations Together II (ACT II), Fairhope, AL: $10,000 to preserve affordable housing

• Citizens of Louisville Organized and United Together (CLOUT), Louisville, KY: $7,500 for work with public-housing residents and on housing issues

• Tying Nashville Together (TNT), Nashville, TN: $10,000 to develop a mixed-use, mixed-income housing community