Our History . . . And Yours

Founded in 1883, Board of Church Extension was the ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that helped congregations with capital project planning and financing. We have come to realize that for your congregation to be strong in the 21st century, you need more than just a building and financial plan to carry out God’s mission in your community.

In 2012, Board of Church Extension (Church Extension) created a new organizational model to better serve the needs of contemporary Disciples congregations through two independent, but related ministries:

Disciples Church Extension Fund provides building and capital planning services and fundraising consultations, and makes loans for capital projects using funds invested by Disciples congregations, organizations and individuals.

Hope Partnership Services (formerly Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation) provides leadership development and congregational ministry planning services.

Church Extension Financial and Missional Resources, Inc. (Church Extension Resources) provides administrative support to Disciples Church Extension Fund and Hope Partnership. Disciples Church Extension Fund and Hope Partnership report to the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) through Church Extension Resources.

This model sought to achieve the outcome of thriving communities of faith that bear witness to God's love. Its design was based on the premise that clear and vital congregational mission is best achieved when DCEF helps congregational leaders generate and leverage capital assets and resources. Likewise, strong congregational mission requires the calling, forming and support of leaders who, with the help of Hope Partnership, can effectively use these assets and resources to help their congregations live out God’s mission how and where they feel called.

Because both ministries are focused on interdependent missional goals, a re-structuring of the organizational model took place during the second quarter of 2019. Since June 1, the operations of Hope Partnership have been administered by DCEF, permitting Hope to serve its mission even more effectively. With this ministry-driven decision, the overhead of Hope Partnership was cut, allowing its transformational services to be offered at a reduced cost to the congregations that need them most. In addition, New Church Ministry (NCM), which was previously nested in Hope Partnership, has become a part of Disciples Church Extension Fund, as well. A denomination-wide program, NCM will now focus on supporting the new church movement with the oversight of DCEF.