THE MULTIETHNIC CHURCH DEVELOPMENT FUND
Diversity in our congregations reflects the Church’s calling to be a community formed in the image of our trinitarian God (Rev. 7:9; Acts 2:1-12). To help cultivate kingdom-minded communities of diversity, C4SO has established a Multiethnic Church Development Fund to support the work of C4SO churches committed to this vision.
The Fund assists C4SO’s local churches with two distinct funding opportunities:
Senior Staff Funding supports the hiring of BIPOC clergy called to a senior staff position. “Senior staff position” means having positional input into the core direction of the congregation.
Young Leader Funding—New for 2025!—supports C4SO churches’ investment in BIPOC seminarians, ministry interns, etc. This “on-ramp” fund will develop future leaders of color.
PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE FUND INCLUDE
PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE FUND INCLUDE
Join Our Vision for Kingdom Diversity Today!
Here’s what you can do.
1 || Create stipendiary opportunities at your church for young people of color (seminarians, interns, etc), commit to their training, and invest in their leadership development.
2 || Encourage the hiring of clergy of color in your church staffing decisions.
3 || Contribute to the Fund. We need partners to help us replenish the Fund for senior leaders of color in C4SO. Give here and select “Multiethnic Church Development Fund” from the drop-down menu.
4 || Apply for the Fund. If you think your church qualifies for the Fund, we encourage you to apply. You must be a C4SO church that has:
- Demonstrated a commitment to the Revelation 7:9 vision of diversity within your congregation.
- Hired a BIPOC young person—or begun the process of hiring a BIPOC young person—for an internship or other leadership development opportunity.
- Hired a BIPOC clergy—or begun the process of hiring a BIPOC clergy—called to serve in a senior-level staff position or on track toward such a position. (A senior staff position means having positional input into the core direction of the church.
- Your church can apply for a variable amount of money, based on your need. We may ask churches with financial ability to make a “matching fund” commitment. C4SO’s team will receive applications and award funds on a rolling basis to allow for changes in church staffing needs/abilities.
To apply for the Multiethnic Church Development Fund, contact the Rev. Dr. Jin Cho, Canon for Racial Diversity and Justice.
Join Our Vision for Kingdom Diversity Today!
Here’s what you can do.
1 || Create stipendiary opportunities at your church for young people of color (seminarians, interns, etc), commit to their training, and invest in their leadership development.
2 || Encourage the hiring of clergy of color in your church staffing decisions.
3 || Contribute to the Fund. We need partners to help us replenish the Fund for senior leaders of color in C4SO. Give here and select “Multiethnic Church Development Fund” from the drop-down menu.
4 || Apply for the Fund. If you think your church qualifies for the Fund, we encourage you to apply. You must be a C4SO church that has:
- Demonstrated a commitment to the Revelation 7:9 vision of diversity within your congregation.
- Hired a BIPOC young person—or begun the process of hiring a BIPOC young person—for an internship or other leadership development opportunity.
- Hired a BIPOC clergy—or begun the process of hiring a BIPOC clergy—called to serve in a senior-level staff position or on track toward such a position. (A senior staff position means having positional input into the core direction of the church.
- Your church can apply for a variable amount of money, based on your need. We may ask churches with financial ability to make a “matching fund” commitment. C4SO’s team will receive applications and award funds on a rolling basis to allow for changes in church staffing needs/abilities.
To apply for the Multiethnic Church Development Fund, contact the Rev. Dr. Jin Cho, Canon for Racial Diversity and Justice.