become a changemaker church

The Changemaker Church Movement is catalyzing congregations to empower and equip lay people to be compassion-driven changemakers in their neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, families, and communities. Thanks to the support of a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment, we are collaborating with several congregations in a three year learning cohort to explore the intersection of faith and social innovation in their own contexts.

Are you ready to risk something big for something good?

Year 1 asks: What is a Changemaker Disciple?

Clergy will engage in an experiential introduction to changemaking and reframing their role to inspire, guide, and bless the work of their lay people. They will continue monthly gatherings as a pastoral cohort throughout the process, in order to share ideas and challenges around change.

Through our powerful R.I.S.K. curriculum, several lay people from each congregation will become “Changemaker Fellows” in an 8-month cohort experience to explore the intersection of their gifts & passions, their faith, and their community as they pursue a social impact project.

Year 2 wonders: What is a R.I.S.K.-Taking Church?

Using a collaborative leadership model, a congregational team (co-led by a pastor and a lay member) will evaluate their mission, vision, programs, and traditions through the lens of changemaking. Each team will develop a plan to become a congregation that is more risk-taking, more innovative, and more laity-focused by learning from experiments. A train-the-trainer model allows clergy from cohort churches to gather regularly to share struggles and insights.

Year 3 explores: Where will changemaking take us next?

With particular attention to its own context, each congregation will identify one or more ministry areas and/or community opportunity in which to implement changemaking ideals. Continued coaching, resources, and cohort interaction will strengthen these endeavors.

MEET our partners

Welcome to our newest congregations!

Atascadero UMC - Atascadero, CA St. Matthew’s UMC - Mesa, AZ

We are excited to be partnering with these churches in our second cohort in 2022!

First UMC - Modesto, CA First UMC - Roseville, CA Fullerton First UMC - Fullerton, CA

St Mark UMC - Los Angeles, CA UMC of Palm Springs - Palm Springs, CA Valley Faith UMC - Sunnyvale, CA

Congratulations to our first cohort of churches which began in 2021!

Christ Church UMC - Santa Rosa, CA Otterbein UMC - Greensburg, PA Temple Terrace UMC - Tampa, FL

First UMC - Pacific Grove, CA Sharon Area UMC - Sharon, PA

Millbrook UMC - Raleigh, NC St. Mark’s UMC - Raleigh, NC Trinity UMC - Sacramento, CA