The Witness & Service Ministry Team of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA offers grants to congregations and ministry projects throughout the NEPA Synod territory. Grants are distributed on a rolling basis throughout the year, so submit an application at any time!

NEPA Loans Flowchart - PDF - edited Dec 2024 (002)

DOWNLOADABLE LOANS FLOWCHART

Be Part of Supporting Ministry Grants

Did you know that the NEPA Synod gives away $30,000 -$45,000 every year in ministry grants to congregations and ministries within the NEPA Synod each year? The NEPA Synod has a Witness & Service grants program where congregations can apply for up to $3,000 and congregations doing a collaborative project can apply for up to $5,000. Projects are meant to be start-up support money; applicants can apply for 1/3 of their total project budget and for up to 3 consecutive years for the same ministry project.

Congregations have been supported to create community gardens, expand their feeding ministry, launch a ministry podcast, support a music ministry for people with disabilities, establish technologies so more people can participate in ministry, organize a Mental Health workshop on suicide prevention, and so much more! There are so many amazing ministries happening around the Synod – and this is one small way that we as a Synod can support one another in witnessing to our communities through love and service.

To make these ministry grants a reality, the Witness & Service Grants Team receives, reviews, and approves applications. In 2025, the Grants Team received 15 applications. In 2024, the Grants Team received 13 applications. The Grants Team is comprised of volunteers, both laity and clergy (pastors and deacons) who meet every other month on Zoom. And the Grants Team is looking for additional members!

Pr. Jennifer Hall shares her reason for serving on this Team:

“I am a part of the Witness & Service Grants Team because Pastor Mike Bennethum asked me to pray about working with the synod in this way. I was new to the area and thought it would be a great way to meet people and learn the ministries of the church. It’s been so much more than I could have imagined!

I love being a part of a team that gets to see the amazing advocacy, justice, and accompaniment ministries that happen throughout our synod. More often than not, a grant will spark something in me that leads to an idea in the place in which I serve. The grant has supported podcasts, community meal ministries, Hope’s Table, and so many ministry ideas that sprout from the youth in a congregation or community needs in the area. It is life-giving to be a part of sharing in the joy of discipleship and living out God’s love throughout our synod.”

If you are interested in learning more about or serving on the Witness & Service Grants Team, please reach out to Dcn. Kat Tigerman.

FAQ

WHO CAN APPLY?

WHAT AMOUNT CAN WE APPLY FOR?

Up to $3,000 for an individual congregation/ministry site
Up to $5,000 for a collaborative ministry project – multiple congregations or 1 congregation working with other community partners
Up to $5,000 for 6261 Ministry Communities engaging in ministry across the Bundle or within the community together
The amount of the Witness & Service grant typically may not exceed 1/3 of the grant project total budget

Collaborative ministries are defined as a ministry project with more than 1 financial partner and a base of leaders and volunteers across more than 1 congregation/ministry site. Please note that the partnerships do not have to contribute equally toward finances, leadership, and/or volunteers.

OTHER ELIGIBILITY FACTORS

Applicants may only apply for 1 grant per calendar year. This does not prohibit you from participating in collaborative ministry projects of other congregations who also apply or have applied for a Witness & Service grant.
Applicants may apply for a Witness & Service grant for a maximum of 3 consecutive years for the same ministry project. Please note that if applying for the same ministry project that each consecutive year’s funding will be a reduced grant amount. The maximum amount awarded for Year 2 would be half of the awarded amount from Year 1. The maximum amount awarded for Year 3 would be half of the awarded amount from Year 2.
Grant projects must directly address at least 1 Synod priority. The list of Synod priorities can be found on page 2 of the Witness & Service Grant Application or in the next section.
Interested applicants should submit a completed Witness & Service Grant Application – which can be found at godslove.org/witness-service - and should include a copy of their 501(c)(3) determination letter if they are not an ELCA congregation.
Please note that Witness & Service grants will NOT cover any expenses or expenditures from the following categories:
- Staff positions or stipends for volunteers
- Capital expenses or capital campaigns
- Use of church property or utility-type expenses due to rental or non-rental groups or, general use by the congregation
- Tuition or scholarships to preschools or non-profit after-school programs or camps
- Fundraisers or fundraising activities

Witness & Service Blog Post:

Listening, Healing, and Engaging Through Podcast Ministry

03/13/2026

Through a Witness & Service Grant, Pastor Kim Truebenbach launched the Condemned Happy podcast, creating a space for honest conversations about faith, healing, and hope.

Adventure Day Camp 2025

10/27/2025

At Adventure Day Camp, young campers, teens, and elders came together in Christian community to learn, garden, serve, and celebrate God’s creation, even as they navigated storms, heat, and the everyday challenges families face.

Grant-Funded Tech Project Sparks New Ministry Opportunities at Ziegels

06/13/2025

Ziegels Union Church upgraded its shared Fellowship Room with new technology to expand ministry and educational opportunities, made possible through the collaboration of two congregations and the support of four grants.

ELCA Domestic Hunger Grants

04/24/2025

Team Members

Deacon Kat Tigerman– Staff Liaison

Rev. Eileen Smith LeVan - Convener/Domestic Hunger Grants/Grants & Loans

Rev. Mary Wolfe – New Starts / Coaching
Rev. Paul Metzloff – Green Team
Rev. Jennifer Hall – Racial Justice Task Force

Email Grant Team

Witness & Service

LGBTQ+

RACIAL JUSTICE TEAM

GREEN TEAM