June Newsletter, 2026 ✦

Sharing Power

Rev. Joel Fitzgerald, Sr. Director of Church Relations

I live on a flyway for Canada geese and cranes. Every fall and every spring, hordes of birds descend on the fields and ponds near me. It is amazing to watch them take off: one, then two, then dozens more waddle-run until they are flying in perfect v formation. It often looks like there is a clear leader, one strong willed goose who takes charge and leads the flock.

Yet that is not how goose psychology works. Geese do not have one set leader; in fact, they do not even have a committee. One goose decides to follow another, and the next goose decides to follow the one next to them. What looks like one commanding decision to leave is really a lot of small decisions made on an individual level.

Sharing power involves both recognizing the power we have and applying that power in a collaborative, generative way.

Power plays a vital role in how churches function, yet it often goes unspoken. Church power structures are frequently hidden.

In C3: Courageous Congregations Collaborate, one of the muscles we talk about is Sharing Power. The United Methodist Foundation of Michigan partners with the Texas Methodist Foundation to offer the C3. The program equips congregations to strengthen five essential “muscles” for ministry today:

grieving well
discerning purpose
walking alongside
tending power
expanding imagination

Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency

Less than 1% of all registered U.S. nonprofits reach this level

The United Methodist Foundation of Michigan has once again earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition awarded by Candid, the world’s largest source of nonprofit data and information.

The Platinum Seal recognizes nonprofit organizations that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to transparency, accountability, and measurable impact by publicly sharing detailed information about their mission, leadership, financial stewardship, strategic priorities, and organizational outcomes. Fewer than one percent of U.S. nonprofits achieves Platinum status in a given year, making the distinction both rigorous and significant.

For the Foundation, this continued recognition reflects its ongoing commitment to faithfully investing, serving, and transforming communities across Michigan and beyond.

Through faith-driven investments, the Foundation helps churches, individuals, and ministries grow financial resources while also investing in leadership development, future ministry, and long-term faithful impact. Alongside those investments, the Foundation’s experienced team serves pastors, church leaders, and congregations with tailored guidance, stewardship support, planned giving services, and ministry resources designed to strengthen local churches and expand their mission.

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Don't Miss These Opportunites

Mustard Seed Grant

The UMCOR Mustard Seed Migration Grant program encourages United Methodist churches to support migrants and refugees. The Foundation serves as the local agent for the Michigan Conference, receiving and evaluating applications for grants. Each grant amounts to $2,000, aimed at community service projects focused on migrants and refugees.

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Education Debt Refinancing

We provide a faith-driven program to help ordained clergy manage educational debt. Eligible elders and deacons can confidentially refinance up to $50,000 in student loans at a fixed interest rate of 1.5 percent. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting clergy’s financial journeys with compassion and community values.

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Your Guide to Gift Planning

Planned gifts offer you benefits now and in the future.

When most people think of charitable giving, they think of cash gifts or appeals they receive in the mail or perhaps special events. However, gift planning opens a universe of options. Some planned gifts create new income streams that pay you, or you and your loved ones for life. Many planned gifts create significant tax benefits

Our Guide introduces you to some of the basic but helpful concepts of gift planning. Gift planning is a way you can support the causes and organizations important to you in creative and strategic ways.

Contact our office to learn how planned gifts can help you accomplish your philanthropic goals while also serving you and your family.

We Celebrate Graduates

Dakota Wesleyan University

Pictured at Dakota Wesley University Graduation: Rev. Sarah Alexander, Rev. David Bell, Rev. Julie Greyerbiehl and Rev. Julie Elmore. Not pictured is Rev. Joel Walther

Rev. Dr. David S. Bell, President and Executive Director of the Foundation, celebrated at the Dakota Wesleyan University with our Michigan pastors who have recently graduated with a Master of Business Administration degrees with a concentration in practical church leadership.

Beginning in 2022, the Foundation has invited pastors to participate in this program and offered major grants and financial assistance.

Tailored for working ministry professionals, these graduate courses aim to enhance skills in:

Financial development
Governance
Talent management
Communications
Project management

Throughout the course, participants benefit from the support of peers, professional coaches, and coursework that significantly enhances their ministry impact.

Congratulations on your graduation!