unconventional pilgrims

In the 1960s, a group of south Charlotte families formed Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ — the third UCC church established in the city since Holy Covenant’s predecessor church was formed downtown in 1906. First meeting in a school, then in a donated house, the congregation eventually built a sanctuary on its property and leased the original house to an active recovery community. Over the years, Pilgrim was served by a succession of pastors — but by the early 2000s, the congregation had grown smaller and its membership older. In 2012, Pilgrim merged its congregation with Holy Covenant; and in 2015, the merged congregations closed and sold the south Charlotte property, with the understanding that 90% of the net sales proceeds would be set aside to establish The Pilgrim Legacy Fund — an endowment whose earnings would help fund new ministry, initially in south Charlotte. The first round of grants in 2018 funded three diverse new ministry/community-building programs, with 2019 seeing a renewed grant for one of those programs. Going forward, The Pilgrim Legacy Fund expects to offer smaller, one-time grants across a wider geography.

The members of Holy Covenant UCC gathered on more than one occasion to consider the vision for new ministry, and refined the non-negotiables for grants from The Pilgrim Legacy Fund. The final list isn’t long, but it’s critical. Any new ministry or program the fund supports must share Holy Covenant’s values of —

• social justice
• equality
• creation care
• peacemaking
• inclusion — racial, gender, LGBTQ
• radical welcome
• interfaith understanding

That’s not to say a new ministry or program must focus on all of these values — but successful proposals will be guided by and attentive to these non-negotiable values wherever relevant in the potential grantee’s mission and program. To learn more, visit Holy Covenant’s website and that of the United Church of Christ.

PROPOSAL DEADLINE: June 15
Proposals/applications for grants will only be accepted via the online application available here.
GRANTEE(S) ANNOUNCED: early August
FUNDING PROVIDED: early September

GUIDELINES
The field for proposals remains open to a broad range of innovative ideas, whether establishing a new program or expanding an existing initiative.

• All proposals are expected to reflect the values of the United Church of Christ — values that include social justice, equality, creation care, peacemaking, inclusion, radical welcome and interfaith understanding.
• While the sponsoring church lives in the Christian tradition, ecumenical, interfaith and community-building proposals are welcome.
• Grants may be offered in any amount up to $20,000, at Holy Covenant UCC’s sole discretion. Grant amounts offered will be based on a range of factors, including the scope of the project and the experience of project leadership.
• All grants will be awarded for one year, though new applications for renewal may be made for two successive years.
• Funded grantees will be expected to report to Holy Covenant UCC as requested, and at least annually by late October.
• Final grant recipients will be expected to acknowledge the source of their funding.
• Proposal criteria and guidelines may be revised without notice by Holy Covenant UCC.

How will your idea bring positive change to the world?