2011 CORR Action Fund Awards: Supporting Cultural Competency and Racial Justice with Clergy Leaders and Seminaries
The General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR), committed to strengthening the level of inclusiveness and racial ethnic understanding among leaders and congregations within the United Methodist Church, announced awards of more than $300,000 to 13 recipients for their bold and innovative programs promoting diversity within the denomination.
Seven conferences, five United Methodist seminaries, and a jurisdictional organization received the 2011 CORR Action Fund (CAF) awards (funded by the Minority Group Self-Determination Fund) for projects ranging from developing intentional multicultural community, forming immersion programs, leading book study, creating cultural competency training for clergy and lay leadership, and for one seminary the complete redesign of the school's theological program.
This latest CAF priority provided awards in two categories:
The Racial Justice Grant for Clergy Leadership, of up to $20,000 for clergy and programs within districts and annual conferences that support efforts to dismantle racism by promoting the values of diversity, inclusiveness, multiculturalism and cross-racial/cross-cultural work; and
The Racial Justice Grant for UM Seminaries of up to $80,000 for efforts by faculty, staff or students to improve racial, ethnic and cultural intergroup relationships and/or bringing about organizational, institutional and system changes in the church, seminary, and in society.
The CAF Grants are offered for one calendar year and funds will be distributed in two stages. Click here to watch Bishop Carcaño's interview and learn about the 2012 CAF grant cycle.*
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CORR Action Fund 2011 Grant Recipients
Minnesota Annual Conference Committee on Religion and Race Three-year intercultural competency training for CORR members, conference leaders, utilizing the Kaleidoscope Institute Process Award amount: $20,000
Virginia Conference Cabinet and BOM Cabinet and BOM, working with Cross-Cultural/Cross-Racial (CC/CR) Appointment Task Force created by Bishop Charlene Kammerer create a permanent CC/CR resource team offering ongoing competency training for clergy and lay leadership Award amount: $20,000
Pacific Northwest Conference Center for Leadership Excellence Curriculum development or cultural competency for use in discipleship and mission-field engagement. Development of evaluation methods to document effectiveness Award amount: $16,000
Oregon Idaho Annual Conference Committee on Religion and Race Development of district wide cultural competency training for clergy and lay leaders Award Amount: $15,050.
Lake Junaluska Social Justice Ministries Scholarships for conference to educate and inform the Southeastern Jurisdiction on the changing racial, ethnic and cultural demographics of the country. Cultural competency training for clergy and laity included. Award Amount: $9,000.
Illinois Great Rivers Conference CR/CC Appointment Task Force Collect history and narratives of CR/CC appointments; leadership training and development of training modules for provisional candidates Award Amount: $8,000.
Oklahoma Annual Conference Committee on Religion and Race Two-month book study of “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander for clergy and lay leaders from the Southcentral Jurisdiction culminating in two-day conference workshop Award Amount: $8,000.
New York Annual Conference Consultations to foster cultural competency for clergy serving CR/CC appointments to include pulpit exchanges, lectures and monthly meetings in culturally diverse settings Award Amount: $18,200.
Saint Paul School of Theology, Oklahoma City, OK Support of a mentoring initiative for the Native American Ministries Program Award Amount: $29,530.
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL Development of program designed to encourage racial/ethnic understanding, focus on immigrant justice with a commitment to long-term sustainability and create a course of study Award Amount: $25,600.
Drew Theological School, Madison, NJ Facilitate in-depth assessment of current M. Div. curriculum and support steps needed to make it truly multicultural and a model for other seminaries. Development of a class on “History & the Idea of Culture;” creation of multicultural internships Award Amount: $75,600.
Candler School of Theology, Atlanta, GA Development of a multicultural intentional community and website, shared learning opportunities including worship clubs and opportunities for individual reflection Award Amount: $21,892.
Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, GA Creation of the Gammon Center for the Study of Religion and Race to include an academic year program Award Amount: $48,000.
*The application deadline for the 2012 CORR Action Fund grant will be announced in spring 2012.
