The first-of-its-kind fellowship is committed to advancing congregation-based programmatic initiatives that promote LGBTQ+ inclusion

CHICAGO — After a successful inaugural year, Pride in the Pews, a grassroots nationwide nonprofit that creates solutions and build bridges to empower the Black LGBTQ+ community, in partnership with Trinity Church Wall Street, today announced a second year of this first-of-its-kind fellowship, the 2024 Black Church Equality Fellowship (BCEF).  

 “This fellowship opportunity provides a safe space for pastors and faith leaders to have critical  and crucial conversations, to ask questions, to break down myths and misnomers, and to build fellowship and relationship with other people who are trying to do this work.” said Pastor Stephen Thurston II, Pride in the Pews Congregational Strategy Advisor and Pastor of the historic New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago.   

 Selected Black faith leaders will receive a $4,000 grant, one-on-one consulting support, ongoing learning opportunities, and two all-expenses-paid trips to Chicago for mandatory cohort convenings that focus on providing faith leaders a knowledgebase, skillset and network to equip them to act as bridge-builders and faith-based social justice advocates in their churches and their communities. 

 “I can be a part of providing solutions for my congregation and serving the entirety of the community in ways that honor God and allow us to provide healing in hurting situations no matter what they are,” said Dr. Eugene Downing, 2023 Black Church Equality Fellow and Senior Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Denver, CO.  

 Proposed projects will leverage the local congregational setting, such as Sunday services, bible studies, growth groups, church staff retreats, faith-based conferences, congregation-based podcasts and web series, and church ministries, with the goal to launch programming that destigmatizes LGBTQ+ related conversations, programming, and ministry offerings. 

 Three-person teams will lead the project that consists of congregation-based leaders, including pastors, ministers, lay leaders, congregants, and church staff. Through relationship-building, resource-sharing, and community-building, the cohort will develop and refine tools, strategies, and skills to empower their congregations to promote the holistic health and wellness of Black LGBTQ+ communities. 

 Black congregations of all sizes, denominations and governing structures in any U.S. state can apply, in addition to congregations across the theological spectrum. Applicants do not have to identify as LGBTQ+ and can be allies and co-conspirators. 

 The application deadline is February 9, 2024. The grant implementation period will commence in March 2024 and conclude in December 2024. 

 For more information on how to apply, visit prideinthepews.com/grants

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About Pride in the Pews: Pride in the Pews is a grassroots nationwide nonprofit that creates solutions and build bridges to empower the Black LGBTQ+ community. To learn more, visit prideinthepews.com. 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Religion News Association.