Grants & Scholarships

Grants and scholarships are available to support congregations, ministries, leaders, and students throughout John Knox Presbytery. Explore funding opportunities designed to strengthen ministry, encourage education, and equip God's people for service.

Small Church REnewal Fund

This fund was established as part of the Bicentennial Fund in order to assist small churches in strengthening the ministry they offer to their respective communities. The objective is to enable the strengthening of ministry in and through the small churches of John Knox Presbytery by means of training/retraining personnel, and/or making needed programmatic/organizational changes (shared ministries, parishes, tentmakers, etc.).

  • Criteria

    1. Small church is defined as fewer than 150 members.*
    2. Churches will have limited overall financial resources.
    3. Churches shall clearly communicate how funding will strengthen the church's ministry.
    4. Assistance will be given in beginning of an initiative rather than giving long-term financing.
    5. Churches will display stewardship of existing resources along with budget projections.

    *Currently under review due to changing demographics in the denomination. In the meantime, churches who identify as "small" and face "small church challenges" are encouraged to apply, and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Youth Partnership

Youth ministry is based in congregations. Youth Partnership Mission dollars are intended to 

strengthen the call young people receive both individually and as members of a faith community to be disciples of Jesus Christ and to help them live out their discipleship by taking risks, meeting other's needs, and adopting a lifestyle that includes study, prayer, worship and service.

  • Criteria

    1. "Youth" is loosely defined as young people ages 12–18 or 6th–12th graders.
    2. Individual youth may apply for scholarships to attend Presbyterian sponsored training/growth events for youth. Scholarships will not exceed $100.00 per youth. (If more than 5 youth from a single congregation apply for scholarships to the same event, criteria #3 will be utilized.)
    3. Individual congregations seeking funding to finance youth mission trips or special youth leadership programming for a youth group may apply for up to $500.00.
    4. All Youth Partnership grants must in specific ways encourage young people to have a faith in Jesus Christ that is their own.
    5. Congregation/s may receive funding under criteria #2 or #3 only once in a given year. Preference will be given to churches requesting funding for the "first time."
    6. In the year of the National Youth Triennium funding for Triennium will have first priority. Remaining funds after August 1st may be requested under the Youth Partnership criteria.

Youth Camping Scholarship

Youth ministry is based in congregations. Youth camping scholarship dollars are intended to strengthen the call young people receive both individually and as members of a faith community to be disciples of Jesus Christ and to help them live out their discipleship by meeting and working with other Christians as well as adopting a lifestyle that includes study, prayer, worship, and service. 

  • Criteria

    • "Youth", for this scholarship only, is loosely defined as young people 8 years old and up to and including 12th graders.
    • Individual youth may apply for scholarships to attend Presbyterian sponsored camps for youth. Scholarships will not exceed $100.00 per youth. If more youth apply than funds are available, funds will be divided equally among all applicants.
    • Applications to be sent to the Presbytery by April 15th.
    • Scholarship checks will be issued directly to the applicant's home church.

Mission Trips Fund

Provides financial assistance to individuals, congregations, or ministry teams participating in mission experiences that serve communities through outreach, humanitarian aid, evangelism, education, disaster response, or partnership-building.

Peacemaking OFfering Fund

The Presbytery receives 25% of the annual PC(USA) Peacemaking Offering received by its congregations. Dollars retained by the Presbytery are available to share in the funding of peacemaking efforts which meet any of the following criteria:

  • Criteria

    1. Provide program promoting peacemaking to the entire Presbytery.
    2. Up to 50% of the cost of individuals or groups attending events or seminars which promote peacemaking.
    3. Up to 50% of funding of new or experimental peacemaking missions initiated by congregations.

Leader Scholarship

The Leader Scholarship Program is intended to:

  1. Increase the number of presbytery members receiving continuing education
  2. Allow John Knox Presbytery the opportunity to benefit from high quality training of its members
  3. Provide education tailored to the needs of the churches of John Knox Presbytery and/or the Presbytery itself
  4. Encourage the sharing of ideas and skills among the members of John Knox Presbytery

LAURENCE NELSON TOWN & COUNTRY SCHOLARSHIP

Offers scholarship support for leaders serving in small town and rural ministry settings, honoring Laurence Nelson’s legacy. Intended for:

  • Inquirers and Candidates under care of the John Knox Presbytery who attend a Presbyterian seminary full-time, are pursuing a Master of Divinity degree, and seek special preparation for Town and Country ministry
  • Teaching Elders or Commissioned Ruling Elders serving Town and Country churches in communities of under 10,000 population in the John Knox Presbytery for the purpose of continuing education

  • Criteria

    • Applicants must demonstrate a need for financial assistance.  Applicants must be willing to utilize their own personal and professional resources to help meet the expenses of the program. 
    • Applicant has not received a grant under this program within the last 12 months. 
    • Following the completion of the event a brief written evaluation of the program will be sent to the Committee on Ministry of the John Knox Presbytery within 30 days. 
    • Payments will be made out to the institution of study. 
    • Grants will be awarded as long as there are funds available. 

Emergency/
opportunity fund

This fund was created to help churches and ministries within John Knox Presbytery respond faithfully and effectively to both unexpected challenges and promising new opportunities. Established using resources from closing congregations, the fund is intended to provide flexible support for projects that strengthen ministry and mission within the presbytery. Those who receive grants for the purpose of new ministries will be encouraged to consider making a future gift to the fund that other entities may also benefit from this program. By encouraging collaboration, stewardship, and future generosity, the fund reflects a shared commitment to investing in ministries that can make a lasting positive impact on communities and the church’s mission.