What You Should Know About Our Enduring Witness Grants

The Presbytery of Baltimore receives funds from congregations whose ministries have closed, whether through the sale of church property or other circumstances in which the Presbytery receives assets. Rather than letting those resources go dormant, the Presbytery channels them forward. The legacies of those faithful communities continue through the life and ministry of remaining congregations, supported by four distinct programs that together form the Enduring Witness Fund.

Two of those programs operate quietly in the background, administered by the Commission on Ministry. When a pastor is on administrative leave, the Commission can assist the congregation with pulpit supply, ensuring that worship continues and the congregation is cared for. Separately, the Commission awards Board of Pensions dues assistance for pastoral positions that are half-time to three-quarter time, for up to three years. These grants recognize that smaller and transitioning congregations need sustainable pastoral leadership, and that the cost of benefits should not be a barrier to calling one.

The other two programs are the ones congregations can actively apply for, and together they form a mirror pair: one looks inward, the other looks out.

Congregational Transformation Grants are awarded by Ministry Group Conveners to support evangelism, renewal, and growth within the congregation itself. These funds help churches deepen discipleship, strengthen spiritual vitality, and implement programs that serve their members and build congregational identity. The goal is to help churches respond faithfully to their unique circumstances while preparing for long-term transformation.

Community Engagement Grants are administered by the Commission on Reconciliation and are directed outward, toward community organizing and community engagement in the neighborhoods where congregations are rooted. These grants support work that is relational, collaborative, and justice-oriented, with a focus on “working with” the community rather than doing something “for” or “to” it. The Commission looks for initiatives that build genuine relationships between congregation members and their neighbors, and that bear public witness to the reconciling love of Christ.

Both grants offer awards ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 per congregation, and each church is limited to one application per cycle.

A Parallel Process

Despite their different orientations, the two grants follow nearly identical application and reporting structures. Congregations applying to either program should come prepared with a clear plan before submitting. Vague intentions do not make strong applications. The Presbytery expects applicants to know what they want to do, why, and how they will measure results.

Once a grant is awarded, the congregation assumes responsibility for careful financial stewardship. All expenses must be itemized and receipts retained by the church. Any funds not spent by the end of the grant period must be returned to the Presbytery of Baltimore.

Reporting is not optional. Both grants require an interim report at six months and a final report at twelve months after the award. Congregations that fail to submit required reports jeopardize their eligibility for future Enduring Witness funding. Grantee history is shared between Ministry Group Conveners and the Commission on Reconciliation, so a congregation’s track record follows them across both programs.

The Calendars

The two grant cycles run on offset timelines, meaning congregations attentive to both programs have two separate opportunities per year to apply.

Congregational Transformation Grants open in the spring, with applications accepted from March 1 through May 1. Awards are announced May 15, and grant funds are available beginning June 1. Interim reports are due December 1, with final reports due the following June 1.

Community Engagement Grants open in the fall. Applications for the 2027 cycle open August 1, 2026, and close October 1, 2026. Awards are announced November 1, with checks distributed and grants beginning December 1. Interim reports are due May 1, with final reports due December 1 of the grant year.

A Legacy That Lives On

Together, these four programs represent the Presbytery of Baltimore’s conviction that the witness of closed congregations should continue bearing fruit. Whether a church is strengthening its own life, extending itself into the surrounding community, sustaining pastoral leadership through a difficult season, or simply keeping the pulpit filled, the Enduring Witness Fund exists to make that work possible.

Full details, application links, and reporting forms are available at baltimorepresbytery.org/grants.