finance

Asbury United Methodist Church’s Wheelchair Ramp Ministry assists community members in need in Bossier City, La. Asbury is one of the churches benefiting from the Louisiana Conference’s new Jubilee Initiative, which will invest $15 million into local churches to help erase debt and support mission and ministry. Photo courtesy of Bryleigh Smith Photography.

Louisiana Conference invests $15M in churches

As part of its new Jubilee Initiative, the Louisiana Conference is helping local churches to pay off debt, fund ministries, expand staffing and more.

Immigration

Members of MARCHA discuss priorities during their online annual meeting, held July 31-Aug. 1. The caucus replaced its in-person meeting with a virtual gathering due to concerns that members of the Hispanic-Latino community could be detained while traveling under the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Advocacy for immigrant communities will remain a priority for the group, members said. Photo composition by the Rev. Gustavo Vasquez, UM News.

Hispanic-Latino caucus reviews mission, structure

MARCHA sets priorities at annual meeting, including reviewing bylaws, strengthening ties with Latin America, advocating for immigrant communities and developing the Elías Galván Endowment Fund.

Local Church

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Grants available to help churches switch to solar

Up to 20 churches will be selected for the UMC Solar and Battery Pilot Program. Select participating churches will be invited to apply for an UMCOR grant up to $100,000 to support their projects.

Local Church

Workers install solar panels at Chamblee United Methodist Church in Chamblee, Ga. The Rev. Blair Zant, senior pastor, said the church has already saved $2,000-$4,000 a month since the installation was completed in April of this year. Several other United Methodist churches in Georgia are hooking up to solar power, helped by a nonprofit organization that guides them in setting it up with no upfront costs. Photo courtesy of Chamblee United Methodist Church.

Churches go solar, putting creation care into action

United Methodist churches in Georgia are jumping on the solar power train, helped by a tax break from the Biden administration and a nonprofit that’s showing they can care for the environment while also reducing their electric bill.

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