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Our History:

The Gateway Board for Mission and Growth was originally organized in 1903 as the St. Louis City Mission & Church Extension Society. Its purpose was to assist in new church starts, purchase property for new facilities and relocating churches and parsonages, and to assist in the start or enhancement of local mission outreach. In the beginning, the only area served by the Society was St. Louis City and eventually parts of St. Louis County. During this time, the Society worked very close with the Church Extension Board of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 1949 a reorganization of the Missouri East Conference resulted in the creation of the St. Louis North and South Districts, expanding the Society’s ministry area to include all of St. Louis County and counties surrounding St. Louis County. During the 1960’s the Society represented the Districts in the burgeoning ecumenical and civil rights movements. In 2000 the United Methodist Church in Missouri once again reorganized, creating one state-wide Annual Conference. The district lines were again redrawn resulting in the Gateway Districts. Gateway Central serves St. Louis City and St. Louis County. Gateway Regional serves the counties of St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren, Iron, Jefferson, St. Genevieve, Montgomery, Gasconade, St. Francois, Crawford, Franklin, and Washington.

In 2006, the Society changed its name to the Gateway Board for Mission and Growth of the United Methodist Church. The Gateway Board continues its work in starting new churches and assisting existing churches create, improve and maintain ministry.

Services offered:

The Gateway Board assists churches that are experiencing growth or creating new, or expanding existing ministries that will create growth. No funds are provided for general maintenance or regular budget items. Regular salaries are not funded. The Gateway Board is to be considered a source of last resort.

  • Loans for the expansion and renovation of facilities to accommodate new growth or ministries. To assist in land purchases to expand current property or facilitate a relocation. To assist in purchase, renovation or in building a parsonage. To provide the “bridge” between funds secured from other sources and the amount needed for the project.
  • Grants to establish new ministries designed to create new disciples and bring an increased awareness of the Church in the community served.
  • Grants to establish new communities of faith.
  • Emergency grants are considered only on the recommendation of a church’s district superintendent.
  • Connection to other resources within the Missouri Conference and the greater United Methodist Church as well as state, federal and local secular resources.

Organizational Structure

The full membership of the Gateway Board includes the senior pastor and 1 layperson from every congregation of the Gateway Central and Gateway Regional Districts. These representatives represent the best interest of their congregations. The full membership meets annually or when called.

The board of directors is comprised of up to 24 persons from around the two districts and from a variety of congregational sizes and types. Every effort is made to keep the board as diverse and balanced as possible. These persons work to strengthen the Gateway Districts through the good stewardship of Gateway Board funds.

Funding Sources:

Funding for the Gateway Board comes from

  • Apportionments
  • Property sales
  • Fund raising campaigns
  • Bequests and donations

APPLYING FOR FUNDS:

  1. The Gateway Board is to be considered as a last resort for funding any project. Whether or not a congregation attempts to secure funding elsewhere will be considered in the decision making process.
  2. Only United Methodist congregations and agencies within the Gateway Central and Gateway Regional Districts may make application.
  3. Project to be funded must be discussed with congregation’s district superintendent prior to requesting an application.
  4. Request an application from the Executive Director if project is verbally approved by the district superintendent.
  5. Complete application and submit with all required attachments to congregation’s district superintendent for signed approval.
  6. Forward original signed application with all required attachments to the office of the Gateway Board prior to stated deadline.
  7. Prepare for a presentation and questions at the board of directors’ meeting.
  8. The Gateway Board reserves the right to refuse any application presented.

Gateway Board for Mission and Growth Of the United Methodist Church
Board of Directors 2007

Class of 2007
Mona Denny – First, DeSoto
Ann King White – Kirkwood
Rev. Carrie Gates – College
Warren Westrup – First, Washington
Rev. Barb Phifer – Faith, House Springs
Wanda Edwards – Beloved Community

Class of 2008
Rev. Carrie Gates – College
Don Toone – Living Word
Rev. Kyle Evans – Fenton
Gina Washington – North Park
Robert Cleveland – Normandy
OPEN

Class of 2009
Lloyd Ivey – Asbury, St. Louis
Margaret Bilderback – Memorial
Laura Reed – Leslie
George Conley – Eureka
Rev. Jon Thompson – St. Luke’s

Class of 2010
Rich Oliver – SunRise
Barry Upchurch – Manchester
Gary Boyd – Union Memorial
Doug Hoener – Church of the Shepherd
John Cooley – New Hope, Arnold
OPEN

Class of 2011
Rev. Carrie Gates – College
Rev. Barbara Phifer – Faith, House Springs
Warren Westrup – First, Washington
Ann King White – Kirkwood
OPEN
OPEN

Officers
President: Barry Upchurch
Vice-President: Margaret Bilderback OPEN*
Secretary: Michael Cochran Lloyd Ivy*
Asst. Secretary: Gary Boyd*
Treasurer: Rick Oliver
Asst. Treasurer: George Conley

Ex-officio
Bishop Robert Schnase Missouri Annual Conference
Rev. Nancye Dunlap Gateway Central District Superintendent
Rev.Ann Rathert Gateway Regional District Superintendent
Catherine J. Cloyd Past Board President
Rev. Bob Farr Center for Congregational Excellence
Rev. Sue Watson Center for Pastoral Excellence
Ivan James Building and Church Location-Gateway Central
Bernie Groharing Building and Church Location-Gateway Regional
Michael J. Doster Of Counsel

(bold)-Executive Committee
( * )- at large members of Executive Committee

Board Activities

Directors are elected to serve a four-year term and attend four board meetings a year as well as the annual meeting and any specially called meetings. At the quarterly board meetings directors review applications for grants and loans, learn about up-coming activities by congregational development in the districts and the conference.

The Gateway Board is expected to be a working board. Directors are expected:

  • To assume an active role on the Board through committee and task force assignments.
  • To attend the regular quarterly meetings, the annual meeting and any special called meetings.
  • To help with identification, cultivation and solicitation of potential donors (where appropriate.)
  • To provide leadership for district campaigns in the director’s local congregation and other congregations as part of larger Gateway Board campaign efforts. To agree to become and stay well informed about the Gateway Board and to assist in the promotion of its mission.