Programs

Let’s grow, together.

FULFILL YOUR VISION AND MISSION. BUILD A NEW SANCTUARY. RENOVATE AN OLD BUILDING OR CONSTRUCT A NEW ONE. ADD SPACE FOR YOUR EDUCATIONAL OR FAMILY LIFE MINISTRY. EXPAND YOUR STAFF. GROW YOUR ENDOWMENT.

Our team has experience in both classic and contemporary approaches, and know what can work for congregations of various sizes and settings.

Prepare, Learn and Plan

We facilitate several programs that support the development phase of projects and enterprises, including the Adese Fellowship, Redeem! and Partners in Vision

Transform Church - Transform Community 2.0 is a unique 12-month program to help congregation leaders renew their churches’ roles within their communities, focused on an innovative approach to organize and conduct transformative ministry in the future.

This cohort is available to leaders in the United Church of Christ and other Christian traditions who are serving churches in marginalized communities.

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Adese Fellowship

The Adese Fellowship is a catalytic experience for emerging entrepreneurs who renew the Church's mission to create a just world for all.

The Adese (from the Amharic language meaning to renew, pronounced ah-deh-say) Fellowship is a year-long, ecumenical program that engages participants in self-discovery, theological reflection and business development as they create enterprises that help their communities follow the way of Jesus and live into God's economy. This groundbreaking fellowship maximizes the business acumen and entrepreneurial capacity of participants to launch scaleable and sustainable ventures that counter systemic poverty.

Through three three-day retreats, augmented by video conferencing, site visits and small group work, participants move through three stages – discern, design and disciple – gaining clarity about themselves and their venture, prototyping and testing their concept, and building a team. Fellows draw upon the experience of mentors and peers while identifying and maximizing the resources of their communities.

Partners in Building

The Partners in Vision program offers planning and technical assistance on major projects involving church property. We help your church create a plan that is resourceful, sustainable, creative and mission focused—assisting with project management, pre-development, repurposing church owned property that is unused or underused, planning complex projects and charting a course for real estate in transition.

Redeem

Redeem! is a sequence of neighborhood redevelopment initiatives designed to incite comprehensive transformation in selected host cities, counties, and/or regions in the United States.

In each Redeem! host location, national and local lead partners work together with churches and other faith organizations, local community development corporations, philanthropists, investors, government officials, planners, developers, and neighborhood leaders to identify and redevelop a concentration of properties (including at least one church-owned parcel) in a high-poverty neighborhood.

The developments may include any combination of mixed-income residential, industrial, commercial and/or retail uses that would offer opportunities to local residents for entrepreneurship, employment, and/or housing. Properties selected are in locations that once redeveloped, would leverage continuing investment and development beyond the Redeem! development, resulting in significant, measurable, sustainable transformation of the neighborhood and region.

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Fundraising

Training for capital Campaigns

We offer the only professional capital campaign services authorized by the UCC. Using our cost-effective approach, churches meet their fundraising goals. Successful capital campaigns raise more than money. Our capital campaign methods also create an opportunity for people who love and participate in church life to use untapped gifts and abilities, equipping congregations to expand mission and outreach. Once you retain CB&LF as your Capital Fundraising Consultant, we provide a feasibility study to determine giving capacity, help you set goals, provide training, coaching and mentoring for your campaign leaders and provide oversight through the duration of your campaign.

Stewardship Campaigns

We assist your congregation in choosing and planning a stewardship emphasis and campaign. Our team has experience in both classic and contemporary approaches, and know what can work for congregations of various sizes and settings. The team will work with you every step of the way, from an initial no-cost/no-commitment information meeting, to helping your leadership choose the right campaign, to training folks in the campaign chosen.

Financial Feasibility Study

A Financial Feasibility Study determines, as objectively as possible, the church’s probability of success in achieving its campaign goal. It can also help identify leaders for a capital campaign.

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Financing and Loans

SITE-PURCHASE LOANS

Site-purchase loans are for the purchase of a first-unit church building site. A down payment of 30 percent of the appraised value or cost (whichever is lower) is required. Any loan balance will be rewritten as part of a construction loan within five years of origination. Loan terms are subject to change.

BUILDING PURCHASE LOANS

Building purchase loans are to purchase an existing building. A down payment of 20 percent of the appraised value or cost (whichever is lower) is required, and the loan term is 20-30 years. Fixed interest rate. Loan terms subject to change.

DISASTER RECOVERY LOANS

Low-interest loans are offered for post-disaster rebuilding. Financing up to $1 million is available to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by a United Church of Christ congregation or any Christian church regardless of denomination or religious affiliation. Church leaders must demonstrate that the congregation has a vibrant, active membership, strong community engagement and the ability to repay all loans.

Our loan programs are available for site purchase, construction and renovation, building purchase, loan refinancing, energy and environmental upgrades and disaster recovery. We serve new United Church of Christ congregations that are younger than 30 years, as well as renewing UCC congregations of any age—and Christian churches (regardless of denomination) in the U.S.

CONSTRUCTION LOANS

Construction loans are for the construction of a first-unit church building. The loan term is 20-30 years with a fixed interest rate. Equity requirement is a minimum of 30 percent. Loan terms are subject to change.

SMALL LOANS

Loans of up to $100,000 are available with a down payment of 10 percent of the loan amount. Loan terms are 5 to 10 years, with competitive rates according to the ability to repay and the purpose of funding.

GREEN LOANS

We provide low-cost financing for capital projects that increase energy efficiency or reduce the environmental impact of a church building. A church may apply for up to $100,000 in financing for projects, including renovations for energy-efficient lighting, upgraded HVAC systems, energy-efficient windows, insulation, water heating systems, boilers, wiring, switches and other electrical infrastructure, among others.

Want to learn more? Check out our FAQs.