ANNOUNCING BOLD MONEY MATTERS! A FINANCIAL LITERACY AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM FOR CME CLERGY!
PRESS RELEASE We are overjoyed to announce the CME Church is the recipient of a 4-year ($1 million) grant from the Lilly Endowment Foundation. The grant will fund a program to provide a financial literacy educational series to CME Clergy, as well as support a fund to provide direct aid to program participants. In keeping with the quadrennial theme, we are tagging this program as “BOLD Money Matters”! The program officially began September 1st with a targeted launch of the actual educational series in early 2023. During the first months of our start up, we will launch our website, finalize our timeline and put other details in place. The anticipated dates for the Spring 2023 session are Tuesdays between February 7th and March 28th at 8 pm Eastern. The series are free for CME Clergy, but registration will be required. Registration will be open in late fall 2022. The program has multiple phases: 1. In early 2023, we will begin the 8-session class series. These sessions will be taught live via an online platform. We will offer the 8- session series two times per year for the duration of the grant period. 2. In 2023, we will launch the "Ministerial Excellence Fund" to provide emergency assistance for certain debts or unexpected expenses and will not have to be paid back. Applicants for funds must complete the class series prior to applying as well as meet other eligibility criteria. The criteria and an online application will be posted on the website after the first series of classes begin. 3. By mid-2024, we plan to add a self-guided online teaching module with advanced courses in finances, financial literacy, financial planning. 4. In 2025-2026, we will add a final dimension to the program, which would be education and consultation for local church leaders and their pastor on topics like "creating a budget", "planning a capital/building fund campaign", "levering property assets". Watch for updates on our upcoming website at www.thecmechurch.org/boldmoneymatters. Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, Grant Administrator Dr. Tyrone T. Davis, Program Coordinator and Budget Officer Mrs. CheRhonda Greenlee, Program Assistant BoldMoneyMatters@thecmechurch.org