Hello friends of ELCA Disability Ministries!
I wanted to offer an update regarding our grant program for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027. Over the late spring and early summer, the advisory team made the decision to pause grants for this calendar year. We reflected on our work together, feedback from congregations and ministries across the church, and took into consideration what funding we could offer in 2026. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we decided to pivot and focus on different projects for the time being.
We have been reviewing our draft congregational audit, individualized faith formation plan, and are in the early stages of building up and updating resources related to mental wellness, our connection to ELCA Deaf Ministries and more. We will also be reviewing our grant process and doing some intentional development with it. As a team, we have felt and heard the need and interest for better and updated resources like these, and felt this was the time to focus on them. As we move into the fall, winter, and new year we will share new resources as they come together. We are very excited for what is to come with these resources and tools for our friends across the wider church!
At this time, we plan to have grants applications open up in the mid-spring of 2027. We are excited to start that up again, with the sincere hope that we can help many projects rooted in belonging, inclusion, and accessibility come together. Your congregations do amazing work in these areas, and it will be a joy to see what comes of them with the addition of some new resources in hand to guide them.
If you have questions, please email disability.ministry@elca.org. God’s peace and blessings to you in this autumn season.
Rev. Lisa Heffernan,
ELCA Disability Ministries,coordinator