A United Church of Christ leader is excited about the diversity in a group of 15 new or renewing churches that received grants this fall, as the denomination seeks to support local churches through a church-wide fund.

The funds come from the denomination's Local Church Ministries New and Renewing Church Endowment Fund. The money is intended for use in mission to give congregations resources to grown in ministry and worship.

"What I find exciting about this group of funded congregations is the number of congregations that are growing in the UCC today," said the Rev. David Schoen, minister and team leader of the Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry Team, according to UCC News.

"The other thing exciting about these 15 congregations is the diversity of the congregations," he added. "They're African American, Hispanic, Asian congregations, some with a long history. And a number of them are expressing their extravagant welcome."

One of the recipients is Sycamore Congregational Church United Church of Christ in El Cerrito, Calif., a century-old, historically Japanese congregation that is becoming more congregational, according to the report.

Another is Land of the Sky Church United Church of Christ in Asheville, N.C., which was founded in 2009 and joined the denomination recently.

Sycamore is looking to reach out to 125 families that use its educational or after-school programs but don't join the congregation in worship services, according to the Rev. Sharon Lee MacArther.

"We're hoping to move forward to connecting with them [using this grant.] Helping families discover the spiritual part of life is part of the Christian experience."

The fund has a required training component that promotes progressive Christianity.

Churches that receive money are required to let their pastors and lay leaders receive training through the Center for Progressive Renewal.

The mission of the Center is to "renew Progressive Christianity by training new entrepreneurial leaders, supporting the birth of new liberal/progressive congregations, and by renewing and strengthening existing progressive churches."

The churches awarded grants this fall include:

- Cathedral of Hope (Mid-Cities) United Church of Christ, Dallas, Texas
- (a)Spire/First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, Pasadena, Calif.
- Grace Christian Fellowship United Church of Christ, Philadelphia
- Iglesia Hispana de la Comunidad United Church of Christ, Lowell, Mass.
- Land of the Sky Church United Church of Christ, Asheville, N.C.
- New Vision Congregational United Church of Christ, Yulee, Fla.
- Open Table: A Community of Faith United Church of Christ, Mobile, Ala.
- Praxis United Church of Christ, Atlanta
- TOX Ministries/Comunidad, Phoenix
- Fairfax Community Church United Church of Christ, Fairfax Calif.
- North Stamford Congregational Church United Church of Christ, Stamford, Conn.
- St. John United Church of Christ, Fairview, Ill.
- Sycamore Congregational Church United Church of Christ, El Cerrito, Calif.
- United Church of Christ Casper, Casper, Wyo.
- United Church of Christ Paradise Hills, San Diego