The Ron Fassett Fund for Justice

The Ron Fassett Fund for Justice was established in 2009 as a way of honoring the legacy of Ron Fassett and his passion for justice.

 

About Rev. Ron Fassett

November 10, 1932 – November 1, 2008
Throughout his life, Ron was passionate about peace and justice issues. He risked arrest and personal danger while demonstrating against racism and war involvement. He served in a “night ministry,” offering God’s love and mercy to people of the street. As director of United Methodist Metropolitan Ministry (1983-94), he chaired a building committee for the first Habitat for Humanity house built by Grand Rapids United Methodists, and was instrumental in developing three new ethnic congregations in Grand Rapids: Hispanic, Vietnamese and Native American. Ron was active in both NECM and SECOM – inner city outreach ministries to the poor and destitute – and started Grand Rapids Area Service Project (GRASP), which provides repairs for low-income homeowners.

Ron was active in related organizations, including The Institute for Global Education, the Methodist Federation for Social Action, the Grand Rapids Peace and Justice Community, the Grand Rapids Area Center for Ecumenism, the United Methodist Community House, Dwelling Place, and he chaired and served on many West Michigan Conference committees. He was presented with the 1989 Distinguished Alumni award by Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and was honored by the West Michigan Conference Board of Church and Society as the 2008 Peacemaker of the Year.

 

About the Fund

The purpose of The Ron Fassett Fund for Justice is to encourage justice for all people.

Ron’s passion for justice is reflected in the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church: We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world, to the rule of justice and law among nations, and to individual freedom for all people of the world.
—From the United Methodist Social Creed

We support the basic rights of all persons to equal access to housing, education, communication, employment, medical care, legal redress for grievances, and physical protection. We deplore acts of hate or violence against groups or persons based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or economic status.
—UM Social Principles, III. The Social Community

The fund will be available for justice-related:

in accordance with our Social Principles.

This generation must find viable answers to these and related questions if humanity is to continue on this earth. We commit ourselves as a Church to the achievement of a world community that is a fellowship of persons who honestly love one another. We pledge ourselves to seek the meaning of the gospel in all issues that divide people and threaten the growth of world community.
—UM Social Principles, VI. The World Community

 

Grant Applications

Application for grants will be considered for justice-related purposes within the West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church, consistent with the U.M. Book of Discipline and our Social Principles.

Grants will be based on need, the viability / sustainability of the purpose, and the availability of funds.

Applicants may be individuals, congregations, or community agencies. Funds may be approved for new /emerging projects, existing / viable projects, and Metro-initiated projects. Application forms may be obtained from the website www.grmetroministry.org or the Metro office, 207 E. Fulton St., Suite #3102, Grand Rapids, MI, and may be submitted online (susan@grmetroministry.org) or in paper form.

The amount available for annual disbursement will be proposed by the Trustees of UM Metropolitan Ministry of Greater Grand Rapids and determined by vote of the Board of Directors. An accounting of the income / disbursements will be given to them by the Trustees at the Annual Meeting. It is recommended that annual disbursements of the Fund not exceed the sum total of interest earned plus 5% of the principal amount of the previous fiscal year.

Funding applications will be considered quarterly. If funding is awarded, an update of the project’s effectiveness, viability and sustainability will be expected by the Trustees after one year. Applications for grants must be made in writing using the approved application form.

We will begin accepting applications after January 1, 2010.

Please mail completed application forms to:

Grand Rapids Metro Ministry
207 E. Fulton St., Suite 3102
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact us.
 

Grant Reports

Please submit a grant report at the conclusion of the proposed project for which a grant was awarded. These reports will be filed as record of grant activity and used in our ongoing evaluation process, and may be shared on this website or in other Metro Ministry publications.
 

Contributions

We encourage all churches, agencies and individuals to make a tax-deductible contribution to this fund by using the contrubution form found on our brochure. Checks may be made payable to the West Michigan Conference Treasurer and sent in care of:

Grand Rapids Metro Ministry
207 E. Fulton St., Suite 3102
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact us.
Applications.