The United Methodist Church’s racial monitoring agency is awarding grants to what it calls “bold ministries” aiding immigrants. But it’s not telling who’s getting the money to protect the safety of the ministries and their locations.
The UMC’s Washington, D.C.-based General Commission on Religion and Race, or GCORR, released news of the grants Aug. 7 without specifying either the recipients’ names or the individual amounts given. The grants come from the commission’s U.S. CORR Action Fund “to support courageous ministries addressing the complex realities of immigration in the United States,” a statement said.
“Due to the current sociopolitical climate and the potential risks faced by individuals and organizations engaging in immigration justice work, GCORR has made the intentional decision not to publish the names or locations of grant recipients,” the release said. “This measure ensures the safety, dignity and confidentiality of those leading and participating in this vital ministry.”
Based on news reports of the past six months, the “potential risks” faced by churches and other agencies helping immigrants could include raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and attacks by anti-immigrant forces.
Jeehye Kim, the UMC agency’s media spokesperson, said in an email: “This year’s grants, totaling more than $160,000, are awarded to 17 innovative and justice-driven initiatives across the United States that support immigrant communities and equip United Methodist leaders for faithful, compassionate engagement.”
The denomination’s budget handbook says the 2020/2024 General Conference allocated Religion and Race’s Core Action Fund roughly $2.6 million over the 2025-2028 fiscal period. All of the money comes from the contributions of United Methodists; none of it comes from federal funding.
The commission’s leaders said it awarded grants to applicants whose ministries showed both innovation and compassion for helping immigrants in the turbulent U.S. political situation.
“We are responding to the urgency of this moment by resourcing ministries that reflect the gospel call to justice, dignity and inclusion.”
“These investments are part of our broader commitment to equipping the church for faithful, equity-centered ministry,” said Giovanni Arroyo, the commission’s top executive. “We are responding to the urgency of this moment by resourcing ministries that reflect the gospel call to justice, dignity and inclusion.”
Alka Lyall, chair of the CORR Action Fund Committee, said: “We are proud to support these remarkable efforts that reflect both courage and compassion. These projects are living examples of what it looks like to embody Christ’s love through action — creating safe, welcoming spaces and offering tangible support to those navigating the complexities of immigration in our time.”
Projects receive up to $10,000 for a 12-month period from Aug. 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026, according to the commission’s website. The U.S. portion of the Action Fund provides grants to local congregations, church clusters, districts, campus ministries and United Methodist-affiliated colleges and universities.
The website says projects must:
- “Have a direct impact on our immigrant siblings”
- “Build alliances with community entities that serve the immigrant community”
- “Integrate GCORR’s Vital Conversation on Immigration curriculum to educate congregation/organizational leadership, ensuring they are well-prepared to fulfill the objectives of this grant.”
Grant stipulations also state that projects should:
- “Demonstrate responsive approaches that address immigration realities of their community”
- “Engage and serve immigrant communities with forethought and direct engagement with community partnerships and alliances”
- “Create initiatives that have lasting change with the potential to be replicated in other local churches, districts, conferences or UMC-affiliated entities”
- “Intentionally incorporate and build upon existing GCORR immigration resources and tools.”
The racial monitoring agency, known by its nickname, R-Squared, was established in 1972 after the 1968 merger of the former Methodist Church with its German-heritage cousin, the Evangelical United Brethren Church. In that union, the Methodist Church’s racially segregated Central Jurisdiction was abolished, resulting in the departure of some Southern Methodist churches that refused racial integration. The commission was established to help the transition to an integrated denomination.
Cynthia B. Astle, a longtime religion journalist, writes about the United Methodist Church for BNG.