PSWR's Church in Society Committee Awards HELM with the Camile Church Grant

A grant created by a closed California Disciples of Christ congregation will provide $4,000 to benefit youth leadership programs in 2026.

Rev. Dr. Tamara Rodenberg, president of Higher Education & Leadership Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), said the grant was given by the Church in Society Committee of the Pacific Southwest Region.

“We are grateful for these funds that will allow us to strengthen both our Youth Leadership Symposium and our historic Leadership Fellows Program,” Dr. Rodenberg said. “We appreciate the Church in Society Committee for recognizing these programs often involve students and mentors from the Pacific Southwest Region.”

Rev. Sandy Roberts is co-chair of the Church in Society Committee. She said the grant fund was created from proceeds of the closing of the Camile Christian Church. 

“I remain impressed and awed by the fact that a long-closed church in the PSWR continues to have an impact in supporting those who are actively working to address the root causes of injustice and poverty,” Rev. Roberts said. “While the Camile Christian Church grant is regionally based, it serves as a fine example of a church’s intentional legacy, especially relevant in these times. God worked through the good people of Camile as they prayerfully considered their legacy beyond their time. Today, HELM’s Youth Leadership Symposium and Leadership Fellows Program are partners in that ongoing legacy.”

Youth Leadership Symposium (YLS) is a six-month program that prepares youth to lead in local congregations and supports them in designing and implementing their own project for their home Church. This leadership lab allows high school age to explore their gifts, receive wisdom from other leaders, and imagine new possibilities for their local congregation. Participants attend in person through “pod” locations in their geographic area, or from home via Zoom. 

The Leadership Fellows program, now in its 26^th year, recognizes undergraduate students with potential for leadership in the church. Funded by donations to HELM’s scholarship fund, this program involves students at both Disciples colleges and other institutions. The Leadership Fellows Program includes connections with a mentor, annual leadership development retreats, and a global awareness experience. Students entering a four-year college from high school or community college are eligible for this $2,000 scholarship, which can be renewed up to four years. This program also covers the cost of the leadership retreat and global awareness trip.

More information about HELM is available at ww.helmdisciples.org.